Oct. 23 | 7:17 p.m.
Kertis Tonge, the suspect in the murder of Quanza Heath of St. Croix, is in custody, the V.I. Police Department reported.
His bail was set at $1,000,000. Tonge was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility, where he is awaiting an advice of rights hearing, police said.
Anyone having information about this shooting is asked to contact 911, the Major Crimes Unit at 340-774-2211, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222- 8476(TIPS).
Oct. 23 | 3.30 p.m.
The man shot Wednesday morning on St. Croix succumbed to his injuries after being transported to the Juan Luis Hospital via ambulance, the V.I. Police Department reported.
The victim has been identified by next of kin as 35-year-old Quanza Heath.
Heath is the 30th homicide in the territory and the 12th on St. Croix, according to the Source Homicide List.* St. Thomas has reported 18 homicides and St. John, none.
VIPD is still searching for the alleged shooter, Kertis Tongue, who is said to be armed and dangerous, police said.
Tongue is 5′ 8″ and 195 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone having information about this shooting is asked to contact 911, the Major Crimes Unit at 340-774-2211, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222- 8476(TIPS).
*The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2024 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as reported by the VIPD. Cases are broken down by island. While this listing is based on VIPD reports, the Source does not include suicides or vehicular homicides in its listing, which the police and some other media do. This can lead to a discrepancy in the number of incidents reported.
Oct. 23 | 1:54 p.m.
Police officers found a man with multiple gunshot wounds in the area of Lorraine Village on St. Croix Wednesday morning and are looking for the alleged shooter, the V.I. Police Department announced.
A concerned citizen called 911 around 11:46 a.m. and reported that several shots had been fired. When officers arrived on scene the man was transported via ambulance to Juan Luis Hospital, according to the police report.
VIPD, the Criminal Investigation Division, and Forensics were dispatched to the location. This case is currently active, and the police are actively looking for Kertis Tongue, who is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is wanted for a shooting incident that occurred this morning in the Lorraine Village Housing Community that left a resident critically injured., the police report stated.
Tongue is 5′ 8″ and 195 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, the report stated.
Updates will be provided upon receipt of information, police said.
Anyone having information about this shooting is asked to contact 911, the Major Crimes Unit at 340-774-2211, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222- 8476(TIPS).
