ST. THOMAS — Shocking new details have emerged in the case of Latifa Raimer, a 33-year-old woman fatally shot and left outside Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC) Tuesday evening. The V.I. Police Department has charged her ex-boyfriend, Dana Joseph Jr., with multiple felony offenses, including first-degree murder, following a review of evidence outlined in a probable cause fact sheet filed with the V.I. Superior Court.
According to the report, hospital staff at SRMC contacted 911 dispatch at approximately 8:48 p.m., reporting that an unresponsive Black female had been dropped off outside the emergency room by a private vehicle. She had no pulse, and CPR efforts were initiated. Medical personnel later discovered that the victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to the upper body. She was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The woman was later identified by her next of kin as Latifa Raimer.
Investigators quickly obtained and reviewed surveillance footage from SRMC, which showed a dark-colored four-door sedan pulling up in front of the emergency room. A Black male exited the driver’s seat, walked around to the rear passenger side, and removed the unresponsive woman, placing her on the ground before speeding away. The man was wearing a white tank top and dark-colored jeans.
Sgt. V. Carr of the VIPD’s Forensics Unit was present for the video review and recognized the individual as Dana Joseph Jr., someone he had attended school with and knew well. He identified the vehicle as a dark-colored Acura ILX, a car Joseph was known to drive and that had been seen near his residence in the Nisky area.
Sgt. Carr contacted Joseph’s family members, one of whom provided his phone number. Joseph eventually agreed to meet police and was located near the WAPA tanks in Subbase. Officers observed Joseph beside his black Acura ILX, bearing the tag AF-1089.
Joseph appeared “emotional” and was described as wearing a black t-shirt, jeans, and black Croc slippers. Officers noted what appeared to be dried blood on his hands, arms, face, and the front of his jeans. When asked, Joseph granted written permission to search his vehicle. Forensic investigators found what appeared to be biological material and blood spatter in the back seat of the car, along with a bullet hole in the rear right seat headrest. Additional blood was observed on the driver’s door panel.
Investigators learned that Joseph and Raimer had been in an on-and-off romantic relationship for approximately six years. Family members described the relationship as toxic and referenced a prior incident in August 2024, during which Joseph reportedly fired shots near Raimer’s residence because he believed she was with another man.
Leading up to the shooting, Raimer had been staying at Joseph’s family home in Nisky for about a week. On the day of the incident, a family member reported that Joseph and Raimer had left the residence together around two hours prior to being notified of her death. They were reportedly en route to drop off a friend when they left home in Joseph’s vehicle.
A firearms check revealed that Joseph does not possess a valid Virgin Islands firearms license. He was transported to the Criminal Investigation Bureau, where he was read his Constitutional Rights and asked to provide a statement. Joseph refused to make any statements regarding Raimer’s death.
He was placed under arrest, processed, and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections. Due to the domestic violence nature of the charges, no bail was set pending his Advice of Rights hearing.
Based on the investigation, Joseph is facing 10 felony charges, including first-degree murder (Domestic Violence), second-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence (multiple counts), possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition.
Joseph was scheduled to appear in court today for his Advice of Rights hearing; however, public records from the proceeding have not yet been released.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact VIPD at (340) 774-2211, the Major Crimes Unit at (340) 714-9804, 911, or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
