Dec. 7, 2003 – The investigation continued Sunday into a double homicide on Lindbergh Bay Road around 10 p.m. Saturday. Territorial Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. said at midday Sunday that no motive has been established for the drive-by shooting that claimed the lives of Austin "Mega" Petersen, 26, and Jermaine "Sop" Graham, 28. Both were shot to death in a hail of gunfire that penetrated the night.
Francis said more than 40 spent ammunition casings were found at the scene, a few hundred feet from the Kirwan Terrace ball park and a short distance away from where police officer Steven Hodge was killed by gunfire in 1994. They were shot while sitting in a vehicle parked adjacent to the old Frenchie's Catering building on Lindbergh Bay Road.
"We have not established a motive and have only received some sketchy information about what went down," Francis said. "Homicide detectives are trying to piece together what led to this ambush-styled shooting." He declined to comment on speculation that the victims may have been lured to the Lindbergh Bay area by other persons. There was street talk after the shooting that Petersen and Graham were at a popular eatery in the Havensight area and were called to Lindbergh Bay to visit a friend.
Francis also could not comment on reports that there was a third person in the vehicle when Petersen and Graham were fatally wounded.
"EMTs pulled the two victims from the vehicle; they were dead on the scene," Francis said. He confirmed reports Saturday night that the two victims are residents of St. Croix. "Sgt. Thomas Hannah and I called on the parents of the two victims to notify them of the murder," Francis said, adding, "they are both residents of Sion Farm." It was not clear why Petersen and Graham were on St. Thomas.
Francis urged anyone with information on the shooting to call police at 774-2211 or the emergency number 911. He reminded the public that all information turned over to police remains strictly confidential.
