Mugshot of Elijah Spencer. The VIPD said Ryan Branch, the co-conspirator, was involved in a vehicle accident on April 21, 2023, and will be brought back to face charges in this case when it is medically allowable. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — Arrests have been made in connection with the tragic shooting of a homeless man in Christiansted, the V.I. Police Department has announced. The victim, Milton Gordon, was discovered with multiple bullet wounds on April 2, and pronounced dead on arrival by Emergency Medical Services.
According to the investigation, the two suspects called Gordon until he walked up to where they were and then shot and killed him without provocation, leaving him on the sidewalk. After receiving assistance from the community, the authorities were able to identify the suspects as 21-year-old Elijah Spencer and 19-year-old Ryan Branch.
On May 2, 2023, at 5:00 a.m., members of the Criminal Investigation and Special Operation Bureaus executed Operation “No Respect,” resulting in the formal arrest of Spencer. He has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and unauthorized possession of ammunition. His bail has been set at $1,000,000.00, which he was unable to secure.
Branch, the co-conspirator, was involved in a vehicle accident on April 21, 2023, and will be brought back to face charges in this case when it is medically allowable, according to the VIPD.
The tragic incident has shocked the community, with many expressing their sadness and offering condolences to the victim's family. The Collective Collaboration, an organization that works with homeless individuals in the area, released a statement saying, "We loved and care for him. Milton Gordon."
