The Medical Examiner collected the body of the deceased man who was shot Saturday morning at the Barren Spot Mall. By. V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. CROIX — A man was shot and killed Saturday morning at the Barren Spot Shopping Center after he attempted to assault a store owner, the V.I. Police Department has announced.
The V.I.P.D. said that at around 11:47 a.m. the 911 Emergency Call Center received several reports of a shooting at the Barren Spot Mall in Kingshill.
Upon detectives' arrival to the scene, they observed an unresponsive black male lying on the ground.
According to the police department, detectives were approached by a black male who identified himself and informed them that he was the one who shot the man. He also told police that he his firearm was licensed for use in the territory.
The man provided his firearm I.D. along with the gun. He was instructed to travel to the Police Operations and Administrative Building at Mars Hill, Frederiksted, where he was advised of his rights and provided a statement.
The man told police that after stepping out of his business Saturday morning, he observed the black male walking towards him aggressively, holding an object in his hand. The aggressor then said, “I going to kill you.” The business owner said he felt that his life was in immediate danger and he promptly drew his licensed firearm and discharged two shots at the black male.
The black male then dropped a rock he was holding, ran and fell to the ground about twenty feet away, according to the V.I.P.D.
Emergency Medical Technicians were dispatched and found no signs of life. The remains of the deceased were collected by the V.I. Dept. of Justice's Medical Examiner's Office.
Video surveillance was turned over to forensics for evidentiary purposes, the department said. After the surveillance footage was viewed by officers, they agreed that its contents corroborated statements collected on the scene.
The V.I.P.D. said a preliminary investigation determined that the shooting was justifiable. The deceased was identified by his next of kin as 44-year-old Michael Brathwaite.
