ST. CROIX — A man living in the All for the Better community — which is near Tipperary on the East End of St. Croix — was shot to death Sunday night inside his home in the presence of his teenage son, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte confirmed to the Consortium Sunday night after an inquiry.
Police and ambulance rushed to the location — the fourth left on the long stretch leading to the south shore from the vicinity of the Southgate Baptist Church — around 8:00 p.m. Neighbors said they heard gunshots but did not know where they were coming from or what was happening.
Notification came in to the 911 emergency call center at about 7:54 p.m. regarding the shooting, Mr. Dratte said. According to the police report, upon the arrival of officers to the scene, the victim was found dead inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. The son told police he rushed to a neighbor’s home for help after witnessing the shooting.
The deceased was identified by next of kin as 51-year-old Eustace Samuel.
The homicide is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to call the C.I.B. tip line at 469-475-3871. You may also contact Crime Stoppers USVI with an anonymous tip here.
Senator Kenneth Gittens calls for greater police presence
Following last night’s homicide, Senator Kenneth Gittens, a former law enforcement officer, told the Consortium that stronger police presence in communities — patrols, neighborhood patrols, traffic — would serve as an effective deterrent to criminals looking to break the law. He mentioned a number of times he’s seen vehicles with foreign license plates, other vehicles with glaring deficiencies, yet these vehicles, Mr. Gittens said, continue to be operated freely.
Mr. Gittens, calling Sunday night’s crime “brazen,” added that he would press the commissioner nominee, Trevor Velinor, who will be at the Senate today for a confirmation hearing, on initiatives the department is pursuing, if any, to combat crime.
Sunday’s homicide follows a Thursday night shooting on St. Croix where four men were shot and one died. On Saturday morning, a shooting incident in St. Thomas on Seventh Day Street left a man dead and a minor — who was traveling in a vehicle with the adult — injured. Just days before in St. Thomas, a man died after being shot in the neck.
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