Transcript for American tourist attacked in Turks and Caicos

This is a serious one. We're going to move to a different travel threat, the latest on the American tourist shot on vacation this weekend in the Turks and caicos. The Washington attorney is recovering this morning but he is not the first American shot this summer. Gio Benitez is here with the story. Reporter: That latest victim is in a Florida hospital this morning and the search is on for the shooting suspects. The governor on the island is issuing an urgent warning about the increasing number of attacks there. This morning, another American tourist apparently targeted and shot in Turks and caicos. This time a prominent D.C. Lawyer and Georgetown professor staying at this private villa. 57-year-old Michael Jones and his family returning to their lavish beach front rental Friday. Two masked men forcing their way through the back of the property just after 10:00 P.M. Even a security guard couldn't stop them. The security guard had been lightly bound at the scene with his own shoe laces. Reporter: Jones confronting one of the intruders but was shot. The men getting away with just a laptop. What we don't know is why the shot was discharged, what led up to that shot being discharged. Reporter: And it's happened before. The governor there citing an increased incidents of violent crimes, 130 robberies in the tourist area last year, most of them with guns. Last month Kevin Newman from Alabama almost died at the end of his family's week-long dream vacation, a gunman robbing and shooting him near his resort. Doctors removing his kidney, putting him in a medically induced coma. We don't understand why it happened. Reporter: Newman telling "Gma" overnight, my family and I are recovering and will not live our lives in fear. Private moment rental sites are becoming more and more popular. One of the most popular, ab and B hosting 80 million guests in 2016. By all accounts the latest victim, Jones, did everything right. The villa even had an alarm system and of course that security guard. We have to remember that a security guard is different in the U.S. You have to go in with a really open set of eyes, really being vigilant when you're staying overseas, locking doors, making sure that when you do travel that you don't look flashy. Reporter: And if you're at a hotel or resort, experts tell us don't just let anyone in your room. A criminal could be posing as a housekeeper, so call the front desk first, and make sure they're legit. And we're told you should check the state department's website for whichever country you're visiting and even submit your travel plans through the smart travel program. We should tell you in the case of Turks and caicos, there's no specific warning about armed robberies so you have to do your own homework. Great advice, thank you.

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