ST. CROIX — A man who was riding a horse was the victim of a targeted shooting on Sunday afternoon, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte announced Monday.
The incident, according to Mr. Dratte, occurred in Work and Rest. He said the 911 emergency call center was notified at 4:40 p.m. of discharging of multiple shots in the neighborhood. Upon officers’ arrival to the scene, they discovered multiple shell casings and a dead horse.
Mr. Dratte said a preliminary investigation revealed that the male victim was riding the horse when a car stopped near him and someone on the inside started shooting. Gunshots struck the horse multiple times and killed it, but the victim, who also was shot, managed to survive and was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital for treatment to injuries he sustained.
On Monday, police arrested 32-year-old Ashnel Evelle Walters in connection with the Work and Rest shooting incident, Mr. Dratte said. A first-degree assault charge was levied against the suspect, with other potential charged pending, Mr. Dratte said.
Mr. Walters was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending his advisement hearing.
The dead horse was examined by the Department of Agriculture’s veterinarian; the incident is being investigated by the V.I.P.D.’s Animal Cruelty Division. The V.I.P.D’s Major Crimes Unit is also investigating the case.
The V.I.P.D.’s asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 340-778-2211. You may also contact Crime Stoppers USVI with an anonymous tip here.
Feature Image: Suspect Ashnel Walters, left, in his V.I.P.D. mugshot. Next to him is the horse believed to have been shot to death by the suspect.
Tags: ashnel walters, dead horse, st croix, us virgin islands, usvi
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