ST. THOMAS — Gun violence has erupted on the island of St. Thomas, leaving 20 dead this year alone, the latest being the homicide death of 22-year-old Ojahnia Adkins. The young man’s death followed that of 34-year-old Jafari Samuel of Bergs Home, who was mowed down during a drive-by shooting earlier today, along with another victim, a female, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds but survived the incident.
According to V.I.P.D. Media Specialist Sakeeda Freeman, today at approximately 3:28 pm, the 911 emergency call center received a call of shots fired in the area of Hidden Valley.
Upon arrival to the scene, officers made contact with an unresponsive black male lying on the stairs of a Hidden Valley apartment building. The unresponsive male, later identified as Mr. Adkins, was pronounced dead on the scene by the responding emergency medical technicians, and was then transported to the morgue at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital.
Today’s incidents follow a drive-by shooting that ended the lives of two individuals last week.
And they follow restructuring efforts at the V.I.P.D., with Police Commissioner Delroy Richards dismissing former chiefs Arthur Hector, Sr. of St. Croix, and Darren Foy of St. Thomas. And it follows a nod of approval by Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter, who commended Mr. Richards for taking steps to disrupt violent crime in the territory.
This case, as well today’s drive-by shooting death, are presently under investigation by the Homicide Task Force, according to police. Anyone having information regarding this incident may contact the Task Force at (340) 774-2211 extensions 5617 and 5554. You can also call 911, Crime Stoppers VI, the commissioner’s Office at (340)715-5506 and the chief’s office at (340)715-5548.
Tags: homicide, st thomas, st thomas shooting, us virgin islands, usvi, vipd
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