The V.I. Police Department on Thursday released the name of the man killed in a Tuesday night shooting, after sorting through conflicting identities.
Detectives from the Major Crimes unit said the dead man is 38-year-old Victor Manuel Otano Beltre, a native of the Dominican Republic. The identification was delayed, police said, because the victim carried a Florida driver’s license with the victim’s photo, identifying him as Critobal De Valle.
Detectives said they obtained the victim’s Dominican Republic’s passport which was issued in the name of Beltre.
Detectives were alerted to the fatal shooting by residents who came to Zone C headquarters in the Four Winds Plaza about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and told police there was a vehicle parked on the side of the road in Upper Hidden Valley. The citizens said the vehicle had gunshot damage and there was a body inside.
Officers travelled to the scene and saw the gray Toyota Camry with gunshot damage and a victim in the driver’s seat. Residents in the area told police they heard gunshots around 9:30 p.m. the same night.
Several spent shell casings were collected by police officers for testing.
This case has been assigned to the Major Crimes Unit for further investigation. The public can contact detectives by calling 1-340-642-8449, 911, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers VI, at 1-800-222-8477.
