St. Croix Man Shot Dead In Parking Lot Of Daycare While Wife Picked Up Child

ST. CROIX — A man sources say was in his early to mid thirties died of multiple gunshot wounds while he and his wife were picking up their child from the George’s Christian Academy, located in Whim, Frederiksted at about 3:43 p.m., The Virgin Islands Consortium can confirm.

The deceased has been identified as Jermaine “Bird” Williams.

According to police sources with knowledge of the incident, Williams’ wife stepped out of the vehicle that was brought to a halt in the parking lot and was headed to the daycare for their child, when an assailant drove up in another vehicle and let loose multiple gunshots from a high-powered gun at Williams, leaving his body slumped in the vehicle, lifeless.

The children in the daycare, along with Williams’ wife, were moved to a room located to the north end of the building, as the 911 emergency call center was being notified of the incident.

Arriving on the scene, The Consortium witnessed a barrage of police vehicles, an ambulance that was leaving the area and a coroner van, as the deceased’s body was still on the scene, inside the vehicle he was murdered in.

Family members could be seen to the west side of the daycare, while others, including friends, were situated on the east side — all in shock as to what had occurred.

Williams had only been married for three years, and had recently opened his own mechanic shop at his home.

While officers and detectives were preparing to carry the deceased to the coroner’s vehicle, an elderly woman, watching from a distance, began crying. She was not related to Williams, but said she had two sons.

“I have two sons, and I always pray to God that I never want to get a call like this,” she said, tears flowing heavier down her face as she looked at detectives preparing to lift Williams into the coroner’s van.

Just before they carried Williams away, his wife was given a chance to see him, and she lost all control.

“Wake him up,” she wailed. “Wake him up!” An officer was trying to contain the shaken woman, who had just lost her husband. “Wake him up,” she cried louder, now banging her arms wildly on the vehicle that her husband was only moments ago brutally murdered in.

Feature Image: scenes of this afternoon’s homicide

Image Credit: VI Consortium.