The V.I.P.D. will host a 10:00 a.m. press briefing Wednesday to address two homicides that occurred within 24 hours in St. Thomas, the first resulting in the death of a former V.I. Port Authority officer, and the second, which occurred after the 7:00 p.m. hour Tuesday, leaving an unidentified male dead.
So far, the territory has experienced 12 homicides for 2021, with St. Croix accounting for nine, St. Thomas two and St. John one.
According to police spokesman Toby Derima, "V.I.P.D. officials will be addressing the status of investigations into recent shooting incidents on St. Thomas that resulted two deaths."
The police department reported Tuesday afternoon that a former V.I. Port Authority officer was found dead with multiple gunshots wounds in Estate Dorothea during the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
According to the news release, on Tuesday at approximately 4:51 a.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call of a man down in Estate Dorothea, in the vicinity of the dumpsters. It was unclear whether the victim was shot at the dumpsters, or whether he was taken there after being killed. Mr. Derima said he would provide an update once available.
Officers traveled to the area and found an unresponsive Black male with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Technicians on the scene made a check of the victim and found no signs of life, Mr. Derima said.
The second homicide is said to have occurred at around 7:58 p.m. Tuesday at the Oswald Harris Court housing community.
According to Mr. Derima, officers traveled to the area and found an unresponsive Black male suffering from gunshot wounds. The gunshot victim expired at the scene a short time later, according to the news release.
The victim’s identity was being withheld at time of writing pending notification of next of kin, Mr. Derima said.
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