ST. CROIX — Gunmen kidnapped a woman in downtown Christiansted during the wee hours of Thursday morning, took her to a location and forced the victim to call her significant other for a monetary ransom, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima has announced.
According to the news release, on Thursday at 2:30 a.m., police officers were dispatched by the 911 Emergency Call Center to a Christiansted residence to investigate the kidnapping of a female victim.
Mr. Derima said the victim reported that around 11:00 p.m., she was walking on Strand Street, Christiansted when she noticed two Black males walking behind her. When she arrived to the corner of Strand and King Cross Streets, she observed one of the male suspects with what appeared to be a firearm in his hand. The victim was then ordered by one of the male suspects to walk toward the Government Parking Lot, where she was forced into a vehicle and taken to a gas station in Grove Place. While near the gas station, the suspects called her significant other to demand a ransom, according to the V.I.P.D.
As the call was being made, the victim escaped from the vehicle and fled the area until she was able to get help, Mr. Derima said. The ransom attempt failed, according to police.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about this incident to call 911, the Crime TipLine at (340) 778-4950, or Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-8477.
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