27-Year-Old Woman Shot Dead While Performing Security Guard Duties On St. Croix; Man Shot To Death In St. Thomas

A female security guard working night shift hours at the Charles Harwood Medical Complex in Richmond, where modular medical facilities are being built, was shot to death either late Saturday or during the wee hours of Sunday  while performing her duties, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte confirmed to The Consortium today. It was not clear at what time exactly the woman was killed, but she was discovered at 12:17 a.m. Sunday by an employee of the security firm RT Unlimited Security, who came to relieve her.

According to Mr. Dratte, officers from the Ancilmo Marshall Command responded to the scene at 12:17 a.m., where they discovered the unresponsive body of the female security guard. Emergency medical technicians on the scene, after examining the victim, determined that she had died prior to their arrival.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was shot between 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:00 a.m. Sunday. As established above, she was discovered by a co-worker.

Mr. Dratte said the victim was shot several times about her body after attempting to block the assailant or assailants from gaining access to the area where the modular units are being built.

The deceased was identified by next of kin as 27-year-old Kaiamesha Thomas.

The shooting of the security guard was one of two homicides that occurred last night. The second homicide occurred in Polyberg, St. Thomas at about 2:42 a.m. Sunday.

According to Mr. Dratte, officers were dispatched to Polyberg and upon their arrival they discovered an unresponsive male lying on his back near a sidewalk. EMTs on the scene examined the victim and found no vital signs, Mr. Dratte said.

The victim’s identity was withheld pending next of kin notification.

The latest killings brings the territory’s count for the year to 39, twelve in the St. Thomas-St. John District and 27 on St. Croix, Mr. Dratte said.

Mr. Dratte said both incidents remain under active investigation. The Criminal Investigation Bureau is asking anyone with information on these shootings or any other to call 340-778-2211, 340-774-2211, or contact CrimeStoppers USVI with an anonymous tip here.