A 16-year-old male who had been celebrating Carnival was injured by gunfire early Tuesday near the entrance to Fort Christian east of Emancipation Garden, the V.I. Police Department reported.
The victim was wounded by a gunshot to his right thigh, police said. He was treated at the Schneider Regional Medical Center and released.
The injured teen was not identified, in accordance with a department policy not to release the names of victims.
According to the preliminary report, at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday police were notified by 911 of shots being fired in the area of Emancipation Garden. When police investigated, they were told a victim had been taken to the hospital.
Officers interviewed the 16-year-old, who told them he left the Carnival Village and walked to the entrance of the fort where he sat down on some steps that were there. He said he then heard gunshots and began to run and realized that he had been shot in his thigh.
The victim was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle. The minor said he did not see who was shooting and he did not know why anyone would want to shoot at him.
St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island Police Chief Darren Foy said it is "appalling" that anyone would fire shots in an area where there are crowds of people, especially during a time when the community is celebrating.
Foy also noted that police officers and other law enforcement are deployed throughout the Carnival Village and will continue to be on heightened alert for the remainder of the celebrations. He asked the community to remain vigilant for any signs of trouble.
He urged anyone who sees a weapon, concealed or displayed, to immediately contact a police officer or call 911.
The chief took this time to also note that there are too many minors in the area who do not seem to be accompanied by adults responsible for their behavior. Foy cautioned parents that minors out after 10 p.m. can be questioned and asked to identify the adults they are with. Unaccompanied minors can be detained for their own safety and parents will be contacted.
