Shooter Of 66-Year-Old Man Turns Himself In; Claims Self-Defense

ST. THOMAS — A man who said he shot and killed a 66-year-old on Thursday, told police while being treated at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital here on Friday that he did so in self-defense, attempting to protect his own life from a hostile attack that he said was triggered by the deceased, identified as Randolph Rabsatt of Ukle Gade.

That’s according V.I.P.D. Police Commissioner Delroy Richards, Sr., who spoke with The Consortium about the incident on Saturday. Mr. Richards revealed that Ja’heil Francis, 19, initially considered a suspect, is being treated as a victim after declaring that he acted in self-defense, and that he was stabbed several times, once in his waist and multiple times in his neck. (V.I.P.D. Media Specialist Sakeeda Freeman told The Consortium on Sunday morning that she had requested a mugshot of Mr. Francis and would make it available upon receipt).

Mr. Richards said that police first learned of the incident after being contacted by the hospital in regards to an injured man who was receiving medical attention at the facility. Upon arrival to the hospital, and after speaking with Mr. Francis, the stabbed victim then revealed to police his version of what had occurred.

“Because of his injuries, we have begun to discuss this matter with our prosecuting agencies to determine whether or not it’s homicide or whether or not it’s self-defense,” the police commissioner made known. “Because if you look at the fact that the victim was lying on the ground with a knife next to him, and was admitted to the hospital with those severe injuries to this throat, I doubt very much that he received those injuries after the guy was shot,” Mr. Richards pointed out, recalling what Mr. Francis had explained.

Nonetheless, Mr. Francis was being held in police custody because the firearm that he shot and killed Mr. Rabsatt with was unlicensed, which could land Mr. Francis in jail for multiple years. He was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections and Friday after failing to make bail of $25,000.

According to a press release issued by V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer late Friday, Mr. Rabasatt was found dead in Savan on Thursday night.

Mr. Jackson, citing a police report, said  the 911 emergency call center received notification of an incident involving an assault victim at about 8:11 p.m.

Upon arrival on the scene, officers found an unresponsive male victim who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, lying motionless on the ground in Savan. The emergency medical technicians that responded to the incident indicated that the victim showed no vital signs and pronounced him dead on the scene. He was later identified as Mr. Rabsatt

This case is currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau. V.I.P.D. is 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.