Scene of the Lorraine Village shooting on Sunday night. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. CROIX — A domestic violence situation in Lorraine Village escalated into gunfire on Sunday night, resulting in the death of a shooter and injuries to two police officers. V.I. Police Department officials detailed the tense events and issued stern warnings to the public following the incident.
"The officers responded to a call for service,” said VIPD Acting Chief Uston Cornelius, speaking on the scene of the shooting. “It seemed to have been a DV situation,” he clarified.
Someone in the home was threatening to shoot the person who made the call, the acting chief said. When responding officers arrived at the residence at approximately 9:30 p.m., “they met gunfire,” the acting chief added. Return fire from police resulted in the death of the shooter.
Two VIPD officers were injured in the incident, one in the arm and the other in the leg, and were taken to the Juan Luis Hospital for treatment. As of Sunday night, VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said that officials were awaiting next of kin to identify the deceased individual.
“We’re not going to tolerate any of this nonsense where individuals are discharging shots at the officers,” Mr. Dratte warned the public. “We are out here to protect, but we’re not going to sit by and be injured by anyone. We will respond to you,” added Mr. Cornelius.
