Man Gunned Down In St. Thomas As Violence Escalates In USVI

ST. THOMAS — A comment placed by a Consortium Facebook page user on Sunday in a post related to the shooting of Marcus Christian-Hendrickson, spoke of an incident that occurred in Savan last night. In the comment, apparently deleted by the user, there was mention of gunshots being heard; then wailing from a mother, followed by a gathering of people around the downed man. This afternoon, VIPD Public Information Officer Kevin Jackson reported that a man had been shot to death in St. Thomas at about 8:46 p.m. on Sunday night.

The victim, identified as 24-year-old Jaquan Adolphine, was killed in Savan.

Mr. Jackson, citing a preliminary police report, said officers responding to a call placed to the 911 emergency call center of gunfire being discharged in Savan, found an unresponsive black male in the stairwell of a residence located on Gamble Gade, who had sustained gunshot wounds about the body.

In the backdrop of this most recent crime wave, 33 peace officers took the oath of office at Government House in Christiansted, St. Croix today, of which sixteen will be assigned to the VIPD. At the event, Governor Kenneth Mapp said the community needs to be more forthcoming in sharing information with police, and reiterated his promise to send local police to the New York City Police Department to receive training.

Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter encouraged graduates to resist the urge of complicity, which he admitted is difficult because “we know everybody.” And Police Commissioner Delroy Richards said the Virgin Islands must forge ahead with a strategy to quell the senseless violence, stating that the territory could not afford to continue losing its young men.

Police are asking anyone with information concerning this homicide to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-714-9807 ext. 5556, 911, or the anonymous tip service Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-(TIPS) 8477 or go to www.crimestoppersusvi.org.