A man was shot in the leg Friday evening as he walked in the Michael J. Kirwan Terrace Housing Community on St. Thomas’ west end, the V.I. Police Department reported.
At 6:28 p.m. Friday VIPD patrol officers and members the Criminal Investigation Bureau responded to a report of a shooting victim at the housing community. Upon arrival officers discovered that the victim was not on the scene and had traveled by private vehicle to the Schneider Regional Medical Center to seek treatment.
Criminal Investigation Bureau officers and Crime Scene Technicians, along with patrol officers encountered the victim at the hospital facility.
Police said the victim told them he had driven up the hill from “The Electric World” business to visit a friend in the housing community. Upon arrival at the residence he found that his friend was not home. He then parked his vehicle at the residence and proceeded to walk to a second friend’s home in the neighborhood.
During his walk, the victim told officers, he observed an individual approaching from behind. The suspect was wearing a black mask and a black shirt according to the victim. He heard a loud noise and began to run, and later discovered that he had been shot in the leg. The victim was able to contact a friend via cell phone. The friend drove the victim to the hospital in the victim’s private vehicle.
This case is under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Police urged anyone with information about the case to contact the VIPD at 340-774-2211 ext. 5617, the Major Crime Unit at 340-714-9830, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-714-9807, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.