ST. CROIX — A 22-year-old man was shot and killed Wednesday night at the Titan Service Station in LaGrande Princess, bringing the U.S. Virgin Islands’ homicide count for 2026 to 35, according to information from the V.I. Police Department.
Police said a concerned citizen reported a gunshot victim at the service station at approximately 9:57 p.m. Members of the VIPD responded and found an adult male lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical technicians arrived shortly afterward and assessed the victim for signs of life. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to VIPD Director of Communications Glen Dratte.
The victim was later identified by a next of kin as Thymothy Rodriguez, 22.
Rodriguez’s death marks the 20th homicide on St. Croix this year. St. Thomas has recorded 15 homicides, while St. John has recorded none, bringing the territory-wide total to 35.
The latest killing comes just days after Jose Cotto was stabbed to death in Estate Glynn on St. Croix. Police have charged his brother, Miguel Cotto, 45, with first-degree murder in connection with that killing. Jose Cotto was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds and later died from his injuries.
Before Mr. Cotto’s death, the territory had recorded 33 homicides — 18 on St. Croix and 15 on St. Thomas — following the August 27 killing of 21-year-old Gerell L. Reed on St. Thomas. The deaths of Cotto and Rodriguez, both on St. Croix, have since raised the island’s count to 20 and the territorywide tally to 35.
The VIPD’s Criminal Investigation Bureau is investigating Mr. Rodriguez’s killing, which police have classified as first-degree murder. No information regarding a suspect, motive or circumstances leading up to the shooting was provided in the initial report.
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