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ST. THOMAS — One of four victims injured during a Smith Bay shooting incident on Sunday, Dec. 27 succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima has announced.
The victim, identified as 33-year-old Delroy Venzen, died at approximately 1:26 p.m. Thursday, according to the news release. The victim was reportedly in an altercation with an unknown Black male when he was shot.
His death brought the territory's total for 2020 to 48, with the 47th homicide tied to a shooting incident on Sun. Dec. 27 in Frederiksted, St. Croix on Fish Street, which resulted in the death of 25-year-old Jahmandi Simon.
Dec. 27 Smith Bay Shooting
On Sunday, Dec. 27 at about 10:58 p.m., officers were notified of a shooting incident near a restaurant in Smith Bay with four male victims.
Mr. Derima said contact was made with a victim at the Schneider Regional Medical Center, who reported that he was in a physical altercation with an unknown Black male in the area of Smith Bay, when he was shot. The other three gunshot victims also arrived at the hospital, however each victim indicated they were not associated with a fight or altercation when shot, according to the news release.
None of the victims had any knowledge of who may have fired the shots, the release stated. The first victim sustained a laceration to the face from the altercation and gunshot wound to the abdomen. The second victim sustained two gunshot wounds to the left arm. The third victim sustained a gunshot wound to the left thigh, and the fourth victim sustained a gunshot wound to the left hip.
In the V.I.P.D.'s first report on the shooting, all victims were listed in stable condition; no details were provided on the deterioration of the deceased victim's health that led to his death.
Mr. Derima said police were still seeking information regarding the shooting, and are asking anyone with details to call 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 774-2211 extension 5579, or by utilizing anonymity through Crime Stoppers USVI here.
