Coki Point Beach in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
ST. THOMAS — The second homicide in the U.S. Virgin Islands this year occurred in St. Thomas Thursday night at Coki Point Beach, when a shooting incident left at least one victim dead and another receiving treatment at the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
The Consortium learned about the shooting soon after it occurred and contacted the V.I. Police Department for information. According to Glen Dratte, the department's communications director, the 911 Emergency Call Center received reports at about 10:04 p.m. Thursday of multiple gunshots at the beach, with two male victims shot.
V.I.P.D. officers and personnel from the Emergency Medical Services traveled to the location where they met one gunshot victim on the ground. The male was declared dead after being examined by EMS personnel.
The victim has been identified by next of kin as 59-year-old Delroy A. Venzen. The other man shot that night was undergoing treatment at the Schneider Regional Medical Center as of Friday, the V.I.P.D. said.
The police department said the matter is under active investigation and is asking anyone with information to call (340-774-2211), or the Criminal Investigation Unit’s Major Crimes Division at 340-642-8449. You may also send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here.
