Scene of the Oswald Harris Court housing community in St. Thomas on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. Photo Credit: VI CONSORTIUM
ST. THOMAS — A man was shot dead at the Osward Harris Court housing community this afternoon, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima has confirmed to the Consortium.
The incident, which brought the territory's homicide count to 39, was followed by a separate homicide on St. Croix about an hour later. The latter incident left a 20-year-old woman dead on the Melvin Evans Highway, and it brought the territory's homicide count to 40.
According to Mr. Derima, the 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched officers to the Oswald Harris Court scene after receiving calls at about 2:13 p.m. from concerned residents about shots fired in the vicinity of the basketball court.
The Medical Examiner's vehicle on the crime scene at the Oswald Harris Court housing community on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (VI Consortium)
Upon their arrival to the location, officers met an unresponsive black male, who was pronounced dead on the scene.
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The victim was identified as 31-year-old Secori Akeel Elmes.
The case is under active investigation, according to police. Persons willing to share knowledge of what occurred with police are encouraged to send a message anonymously to Crime Stoppers USVI through this link.
