V.I. Police officials have taken “several persons of interest” into custody in connection with the murder of Samuel Josiah Cornelius, shot while driving in the Estate Nadir area noon Monday.
While no arrests have been made as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, police have detained “between two and five persons” at the Major Crimes or Criminal Investigations Bureau, according to VIPD spokesperson Melody Rames.
After being shot, the 21-year-old Cornelius was taken by private car to Schneider Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the back of his head. He died at 10:12 pm Monday night, according to hospital spokesman Sam Topp.
Police are continuing to question a number of witnesses in the ongoing investigation but do not yet have any ballistics information.
Police are asking local citizens to call the Chief of Police or investigators with any information.
“It has been proven that here on St. Thomas if the community is involved these cases are resolved much faster,” Police Chief Rodney F. Querrard stated in the release.
Persons with information about the shooting can call Major Crime detectives at 340-715-5545, the Chief’s office at 340-715-5548 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.
