Sunday Shootings In St. Thomas Leave One Dead, Another Fighting For His Life

ST. THOMAS — One man died while another was badly wounded and is said to be fighting for his life, following separate shootings that occurred in St. Thomas today, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte has announced.

The first incident occurred in the wee hours of Sunday at around 1:32 a.m. in the Red Hook parking lot, Mr. Dratte said. A resident called 911 in regards to multiple gunshots being fired, and also reported that a man had been shot and appeared unresponsive.

The victim was transported to the Schneider Regional Medical Center (S.R.M.C.) by private vehicle. However, by the time the V.I.P.D.’s major crime unit arrived to interview the individual, he had already passed.

The deceased was identified by next of kin as 27-year-old Rudolph Rudell Maduro, according to police.

Also today at about 6:52 a.m., the 911 emergency call center received a call regarding gunshots that were discharged in the Tutu High Rise housing community.

Shortly thereafter, a vehicle with several bullet holes arrived at S.R.M.C.’s emergency room along with a male victim with a gunshot wound to the head, Mr. Dratte said.

Contact was made with a male individual who drove the vehicle to the hospital. He told police that he had just arrived to pick up his friend in the Tutu Hi Rise area, when an unknown vehicle pulled up near to his vehicle, and two occupants exited their vehicle and started firing shots in his direction. Fearing for his life, the driver said he ran for cover while his friend sat in the vehicle. After the barrage of gunfire, and when the two assailants fled the scene, he realized that his friend had been shot in the head and immediately drove the vehicle to the hospital, according to Mr. Dratte.

Mr. Dratte said the victim was in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon. A person with knowledge of the matter told The Consortium that physicians were attempting to stabilize the victim in preparation for a possible airlift out of the territory for further medical attention.

Police say both cases are under investigation by the V.I.P.D.’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (C.I.B.). You may provide information to the Bureau that may lead to arrest of suspects by calling 340-774-2211. You may also contact Crime Stoppers USVI with your anonymous tip here.

According to information provided to The Consortium by the V.I.P.D., today’s gun-related homicide on St. Thomas brought the St. Thomas-St. John district count to 19, equaling St. Croix’s gun-related homicide count of 19, for a territory-wide total of 38 gun-related homicides this year. When vehicular homicides are factored in, the overall number of homicides jumps to 42, with three vehicular homicides on St. Croix and one in St. Thomas.