Man, 22, Shot Dead In St. Thomas Early Thursday; Homicide Count Now 43 For 2017

ST. THOMAS — A man succumbed to his injuries after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds about his body in the Tutu High Rise housing community, also known as Ras Valley, V.I.P.D. Commissioner Delroy Richards confirmed to The Consortium early Thursday.

According to the commissioner, at about 3:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to Tutu High Rise, and found a man — who Mr. Richards said was 22 years old — lifeless on the ground.

Today’s homicide in Tutu High Rise is the second shooting incident in the housing community in the past four days; on Sunday, a man, who is believed to be brain-dead, according to the commissioner, was shot in the head while being picked up by a friend.

Police are seeking help with both incidents. Call the V.I.P.D.’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at 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., this morning’s gun-related homicide on St. Thomas brought the St. Thomas-St. John district count to 20, 1 ahead of the 19 gun-related homicides on St. Croix, for a territory-wide total of 39 gun-related homicides this year. When vehicular homicides are factored in, the overall number of homicides jumps to 43, with three vehicular homicides on St. Croix and one on St. Thomas.