Sept. 30, 2007 — One man was killed and two wounded Sunday afternoon in a shootout at Magens Bay Beach.
Deputy Chief of Police Melvin Venzen said Sunday night that police officers picnicking with their families at the beach heard gunshots around 4 p.m. and rushed to the area where the shooting had taken place.
The officers were able to apprehend four individuals as they tried to run away, including one of the injured men, who had been shot in the leg. Two were minors.
Venzen said he believed the minors had been released to their parents' custody. He said he wasn't sure of the disposition of the fourth person.
The name of the dead man, who was shot in the abdomen and died in surgery, is being withheld pending notification of his family.
The other two who were wounded were taken to the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas Sunday via ambulance. One has been treated and released.
Three firearms were recovered at the scene, Venzen said.
The beach was full of people as usual for a Sunday, Venzen said. This is only the second time in recent history that gunfire has shattered the calm at the island's most popular beach and Sunday gathering spot. There was a similar incident in May 2005. (See "Gun Violence Interrupts Sunday at the Beach.")
"The amount of injuries could have been a lot worse if the police had not been at the scene," Venzen said.
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