A mother and her child were shot and killed Tuesday afternoon in Estate Glynn, the V.I. Police Department reported.
They were the 17th and 18th homicide in the territory since the start of the year, the ninth and 10th on St. Croix. More alarmingly, they were the third and fourth homicides on the island in the last week.
Police were dispatched to the scene at about 2:10 p.m. According to St. Croix Chief of Police James Parris, the mother was in her mid 20s and the child was between 8- and 12-years-old at the time of the shooting. The V.I. Police Department did not release the names of the victims.
Detectives are searching for suspects and gathering evidence. Anyone with information can call police at 1-340-712-6077 or 1-340-712-6037, the 911 emergency call center or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.