James Kouzaris and James Cooper were 'forced at gunpoint to go to run-down housing estate'

Police investigating the murder of two British tourists in Florida believe they were ordered at gunpoint into a run-down housing estate where they were robbed before being shot dead.

They are working on a theory that James Cooper and James Kouzaris were confronted by the alleged gunman Shawn Tyson as they tried to find an all-night restaurant.

The 16 year-old is thought to have frogmarched the pair away from a well lit road and into the series of one way streets that make up the “no go” area of the Courts housing project in the Newtown, north Sarasota.

The men were shot multiple times as they ran for their lives after being made to turn out their pockets and hand over their wallets, phones and a camera.

One eye witness has claimed 25-year-old Cooper was shot three times in the chest before tripping over and slumping on the floor where he died.

The witness claimed Kouzaris was shot in the head but managed to stagger over 40 feet from his friend and died by the side of a parked car. (read more)