Police Release Name Of Minor Slain During Shooting Outside St. Croix Cockpit

ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Police Department has released the name of a minor who was shot to death outside the cockpit in Estate Glynn on Saturday night.

According to V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte, 16-year-old Juan Aponte succumbed to gunshot wounds on the scene.

A female victim, who is an employee of the cockpit, was shot in the leg and was said to be in stable condition. And an adult male — who was in critical condition and was being prepared to be airlifted out of the territory for further medical assistance — was shot in the head, Police Commissioner Delroy Richards told this publication late Saturday.

The incident occurred after 8:00 p.m., and the 911 emergency call center was contacted at about 8:23 p.m. Mr. Richards said the V.I.P.D., as of early Sunday, had not established a motive for the deadly shooting. He said people who were inside the establishment heard gunshots on the outside, and witnessed at least two of the victims rushing into the cockpit attempting to escape gunfire.

“We don’t know whether the adult male was the target, or whether the minor was the target,” Mr. Richards said.

While the incident was ongoing, an officer noticed a man on the scene acting suspicious. The man then got into a vehicle and drove away from the scene, prompting police to pursue him, according to Mr. Richards. He was chased to the Barren Spot area, where he then got out of the car and ran into a house. Mr. Richards said police were able to take him into custody and levied unlicensed firearm, ammunition and unlawful entry charges against him.

“One incident led to the other,” Mr. Richards said. The commissioner had previously stated that the second incident was not connected to the first. However, in a later conversation with this publication today, he said, “We don’t know if he is the shooter, but we know that he was on the scene, he was acting suspicious, he was followed and ran into a house — and the house that he ran into, he had no permission to be there. So he was also charged with unlawful entry.”

The commissioner had earlier stated that the incidents were not connected, and that the latter matter had forced officers to call for K-9 Units while they were knee-deep investigating the shooting.

The death was the third on St. Croix in 2017; St. Thomas has seen 10 deaths — bringing the territory’s total this year to 13.

As of early Sunday, police were continuing their investigation into the matter, according to the commissioner. The force is asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of those involved to contact the V.I.P.D. at (340)778-2211, or Crime Stoppers USVI, where you tip may lead to a substantial payout.