A V.I.P.D. Special Operations Bureau detective secures the Red Brick crime scene as other officers perform investigatory work on Tues. Dec. 28, 2021. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. CROIX — One man is dead and another injured after a shooting incident Tuesday afternoon near the Red Brick (D. Hamilton Jackson Housing Community) beach. The incident carried the territory's total homicide for 2021 to 46 following the classification of Johnny Encarnacion's disappearance as a homicide.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received calls regarding the shooting and two men down at about 2:30 p.m., said V.I.P.D. Commissioner Ray Martinez.
One of the two victims was pronounced dead on the scene, and the other victim, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital for treatment and was last listed as being in serious condition.
V.I.P.D. officers were on the scene of a shooting incident that left one man dead and another injured on Tues. Dec. 28, 2021 in the area of the Red Brick beach. (Credit: V.I. Consortium)
The deceased victim was identified by next of kin as Jose M. Riviera, age 21, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. According to police spokesman Toby Derima, the V.I.P.D. has a person of interest in custody.
Commissioner Martinez condemned the homicide and said the V.I.P.D. would investigate the crimes with fervor. To that end, the commissioner issued a passionate plea to the public to provide information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrator (s). "We are reaching out to the public again. We appreciate the assistance they have provided in the past and we are looking forward to them coming forward to provide us with information regarding Tuesday's incident in Red Brick," he said.
He added, "During the holiday season where we should be celebrating, we are faced with another unfortunate violent crime incident that shows that there are individuals in our community who prefer to settle differences through violence. This is not going to be tolerated, and we're going to continue to investigate this incident as well as all of the violent crime matters with utmost diligence and fervor."
V.I.P.D. officers were on the scene of a shooting incident that left one man dead and another injured on Tues. Dec. 28, 2021 in the area of the Red Brick beach. (Credit: V.I. Consortium)
Anyone with information regarding the shooting in Red Brick is asked to send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here. You may also contact the Crime Tip Line at (340) 778-4950.
