V.I.P.D. investigators on the scene of Monday night's shooting in Castley Coakley. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. CROIX — At least four males were shot and two succumbed to injuries during a deadly incident which occurred in Castle Coakley Monday night, the V.I. Police Department has confirmed to the Consortium.
The two deceased victims were 17-year-old minors, the V.I.P.D. also confirmed.
The incident represented the first two homicides in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2022, after the territory experienced 46 homicides in 2021 — the last for the year occurring on December 28 at the D. Hamilton Jackson housing community, called Red Brick.
According to the V.I.P.D., multiple calls came in to the 911 Emergency Call Center at about 9:17 p.m. Monday regarding heavy gunfire in the vicinity of the Red Cross building and continuing deeper inside Castle Coakley.
The shooting resulted in at least four gunshot victims, two of whom were pronounced dead on arrival. Police detectives were seen in the area near the sugar mill in Castle Coakley investigating the incident, the Consortium can confirm.
The two deceased victims were transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital in a sedan, and police detectives already at the hospital discovered the two unresponsive males in the sedan, according to the V.I.P.D.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received reports of heavy gunfire from Sion Farm to Castle Coakley just after 9:00 p.m. preceding the deaths and injuries. The V.I.P.D.'s ShotSpotter system then issued an alert of the shootings. Shortly after the ShotSpotter notice was issued, one victim showed up at JFL, and a V.I.P.D. unit already at JFL reported three more gunshot victims, two of whom were dead on arrival and found in the sedan which carried them to the hospital.
According to V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima, the victims were identified as Odonnie Heywood of Concordia Manor and Jahny Ledesma of Canebrake Apartments, both 17 years old.
Anyone with information regarding the shootings is asked to send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here. You may also contact the Crime Tip Line at (340) 778-4950.
