Karem Moses, a 19-year-old resident of Estate Anna's Retreat, was shot and killed Monday evening at the Tutu High Rise community, the V.I. Police Department reported.

It was the 39th homicide in the U.S. Virgin Islands since the beginning of the year, the 18th on St. Thomas. For comparison, there had been 34 homicides territorywide in the same period in 2011, 10 on St. Thomas.

St. Thomas police were dispatched by 911 operators to a site near building 17 in the housing community. Once on the scene, officers found the unresponsive body of the victim, later identified as Moses.

Police said the victim seemed to have multiple gunshot wounds to his body.

The case is being followed up by detectives of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call detectives at 715-5545 or 715-5546, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-TIPS.