Last updated at 1:22 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023.
ST. CROIX — In the early hours of Sunday, a shooting occurred in the vicinity of the Christiansted Market resulting in two individuals sustaining serious gunshot injuries, the V.I. Police Department has confirmed to the Consortium.
Kamal A. Russell, one of the organizers of Downtown Shutdown — an entertainment event featuring a wide range of performers — informed the Consortium Sunday morning that the shooting occurred just after the event had concluded.
At approximately 4:03 a.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center (ECC) received reports of multiple shots being fired in downtown Christiansted. According to a radio transmission received by the ECC from the Special Operations units at the event, shots were fired, and emergency medical services were immediately requested at the scene.
The victims, a male and a female, were both transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital in private vehicles. The male victim suffered a gunshot wound to his chest, while the female victim sustained a gunshot injury to her groin area, according to police. Both victims are reported to be in stable condition but may require surgical intervention due to the severity of their injuries.
In addition to the ECC report, the ShotSpotter system, which detects and reports gunfire, recorded 20 rounds being fired at the same location, according to the VIPD.
The Police Department was promptly on the scene following the incident. The case is currently active, with the VIPD conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As of now, no further details have been provided regarding potential suspects or the motive behind the shooting. The VIPD has stated that updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
The department encourages anyone with information to send it anonymously to Crime Stoppers USVI here.
