Drive-By Shooting Leaves 14-Year-Old Wounded In St. Thomas

ST. THOMAS — A drive-by shooting that occurred here on Saturday at about 11:00 a.m. left a 14-year-old minor wounded, V.I.P.D. Media Specialist Sakeeda Freeman announced on the same day via press release.

According to Ms. Freeman, the 911 emergency call center received notification of the incident at about 1:40 p.m., and immediately headed to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital to meet with the victim.

The victim told police that while he and two other friends were walking in the vicinity of the Purple Shop, which is located in Bovoni, a vehicle drove by and began firing shots at them. The 14-year-old added that they all began to run and he later realized that one of his fingers was bleeding. The victim said he wrapped his finger up in some napkins and caught a safari taxi to the hospital for treatment. The victim said he did not see the type of vehicle, nor who in it fired the shots at them.

The victim sustained a single gunshot wound to his left thumb, was treated and released.

Elsewhere here on Friday at about 2:30 p.m., officers from the Investigation Unit responded to a report of a robbery that took place in the vicinity of 1st Avenue in Estate Thomas.

Upon arrival to the scene, officers made contact with the victim, who stated that while walking along 1st Avenue in Estate Thomas, a green SUV pulled up next to her and a black unknown male jumped out of the vehicle with a handgun and pointed it towards her head.

According to the victim, the suspect demanded that she give up her necklace, and began tugging on it while it was still on her body. The suspect was unable to remove the chain, but because she was fearful for her life, the victim gave it to the suspect.

After surrendering her belonging to her assailant, the suspect ran back into the vehicle and sped off in an unknown direction. The victim said she did not sustain injury and no one else was in the area when the robbery occurred.

Police are asking anyone with information about these incidents to contact Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340)774-2211 at extensions 5579 and 5557. They can also call 911, Crime stoppers VI, the Commissioner’s Office at (340)715-5506 and the Chief’s Office at (340)715-5548.