From left to right, brothers Samuel Rivera and Marcelino Rivera. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Two brothers are wanted by the V.I. Police Department in connection with a shooting incident that occurred in Tide Village Thursday afternoon, V.I.P.D. Director of Communications Glen Dratte has announced.
According to the V.I.P.D., at 1:59 p.m. officers responded to the shooting incident in Tide Village, in the vicinity of the East Way Gas Station which is close to the Pearl B. Larsen K-8 School. Upon their arrival, officers spoke with a black male who said he was shot by Samuel Rivera and was also grabbed and struck by his brother Marcelino Rivera, the V.I.P.D. said. The victim further stated that they were friends and claimed not to know why the brothers attacked him.
The victim was shot in his chest and the bullet traveled to and lodged in his spinal column causing paralysis, the police department said.
The V.I.P.D.'s forensics arm was present and processed the scene. Camera footage was collected that substantiated the victim’s accounts of the event, police said.
The V.I.P.D. is searching for 21-year-old Marcelino Rivera, who is described as a Hispanic male with long black hair, standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds. The police department is also searching for 25-year-old Samuel Rivera, who is described as a Hispanic male with sun-bleached hair and is about 5 feet, 6 inches tall with a light complexion. Samuel weighs about 124 pounds, according to the V.I.P.D.
The police department is asking anyone with information about this shooting to call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-712-6082, the CIB Tip-line at 340-778-4950. You may also send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here.
