A 25-year-old Frederiksted man was shot and killed by an off-duty Virgin Islands police officer early Monday morning at a Christiansted nightclub.
According to Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis, at 2:42 a.m. an off-duty officer called for assistance at the Frontline Nightclub. When police arrived, they found James Nesbitt Jr. of Williams Delight fatally wounded.
Francis said that eyewitnesses reported to police investigators that Nesbitt had approached a woman and asked her to dance. When she refused, he became enraged and an argument ensued.
Francis said Nesbitt then exited the nightclub and went to his vehicle. Upon returning, he was stopped by an off-duty officer who had been advised to check Nesbitt before he came inside the establishment.
The officer reportedly frisked Nesbitt, felt a bulge, and then requested assistance from another off-duty officer, who retrieved a sword from Nesbitt.
Francis said that according to the preliminary report, the second officer
took the sword from Nesbitt, but Nesbitt grabbed the sword from the officer
and began swinging. The second officer then fired a single shot at Nesbitt, striking him in the chest.
Nesbitt was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner. Francis said the officer was treated at the Juan F. Luis Hospital for several lacerations to his hand and arm and was released after receiving a dozen stitches.
A 33-inch sword was recovered from the scene. Francis said the officer, who has not been identified, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Affairs unit.
Anyone with information is asked to call the investigation Bureau at 778-2211 ext. 4530/4533, or the Internal Affairs Bureau at 778-3066.
The last time a St. Croix police officer shot and killed someone was in August 1998 in connection with a domestic violence incident, Francis said. The investigation of that shooting is now pending in the Attorney General's Office.
