A 15-year-old boy died Friday after being shot multiple times in the area of Vester Gade on St. Thomas, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department.
The ShotSpotter Detection System alerted 911 to multiple gunshots fired at approximately 2:17 p.m. Friday. Shortly afterward, a concerned citizen called 911 to report that a male victim had been injured, according to a VIPD police report.
Officers responded to the scene and found a responsive male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The victim was transported by ambulance to Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, where medical personnel performed life-saving measures. He later died from his injuries, the police report stated.
The victim was identified by his next of kin as Tre’Vante Etienne, 15, the report stated.
Police said no suspect information was immediately available. The investigation is being handled by the Major Crimes Unit.
Etienne’s death marks the eighth homicide on St. Thomas and the 17th for the territory, according to the Source Homicide List.*
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211, extensions 5555 or 5556, or Crime Stoppers V.I. at 800-222-8477.
*The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2026 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.
