Baby Killed In St. Thomas Shooting; Driver Injured But In Stable Condition

Last updated: Thursday, December 15, 1:24 p.m.

ST. THOMAS — A mother must live with the horror of witnessing the death of her 17-month-old baby, who was killed after being struck in her left chest by a bullet on Wednesday night while they traveled in a car in the vicinity of Contant Knolls, on the road near the St. Thomas Taxi Association, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte confirmed to The Consortium just after midnight.

The information was relayed to Mr. Dratte by St. Thomas Police Chief Jason Marsh, who was on the scene after the incident, and followed the victims who survived the shooting to the Roy Lester Schneider Regional Hospital.

The incident occurred just before 10: 00 p.m. last night, according to Chief Marsh. He said someone came up to the vehicle (it was not clear whether this person was on foot or in another vehicle), and opened fire on the car that the victims were traveling in, leaving the driver and the girl child, after being shot in the left chest, dead. The young child was pronounced dead at approximately 10:50 p.m., according to V.I.P.D. Media Specialist Sakeeda Freeman. The female victim was at the hospital, but she was not injured, according to Ms. Freeman.

Chief Marsh, who was at the hospital in the wee hours of Thursday, said the male victim was in stable condition.

Talk of the incident erupted on social media late Wednesday and early Thursday, with residents decrying the incident. The child’s image was even shared online.

St. Thomas has led this year with homicides, with this latest incident bringing the island’s total for 2016 to 31, according to data provided by the V.I.P.D., seen below. In contrast, St. Croix has seen 25 homicides this year, bringing the territory’s total this year to 56, up 25 percent year-on-year.

The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of crime perpetrators to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 714-9801. You can also contact 911 or Crime Stoppers USVI, where your tip could net you a payday.

Updates: Police are saying that the female victim, while at the hospital, was not injured, and that the incident occurred minutes before 10:00 p.m. The force is also holding a press briefing at 3:00 p.m. today in St. Thomas to update residents on the matter.