Two men were shot by their vehicles just after midnight Monday near the VIPR festival on St. Croix, the V.I. Police Department reported.
Around 12:10 a.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center received reports of shots fired near the VIPR festival, which was held at the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agricultural Complex. Officers were notified that the victim was being transported to the hospital via a private vehicle. When officers arrived at the hospital, they observed a man in the trauma room being treated for a gunshot wound to his right hip, according to the police report.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was standing by his vehicle with his
girlfriend and infant child when they were approached by a Black male who wore a red mask demanding their belongings at gunpoint. The victim was able to punch the man, causing him to fall to the ground. However, the perpetrator pointed a gun at the victim and fired a single shot, which struck him in the hip area. As the perpetrator was fleeing the area, he fired another shot at the victim, the police report stated.
While officers were at the hospital, another man walked in with a gunshot wound to his foot area. The victim stated that he was struck by a bullet while walking to his vehicle which was parked in the eastern parking lot at the Agricultural Complex. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the leg that exited his heel, the report stated.
Investigation continues into this matter. Anyone with information can call 911, CIB Tipline
at (340) 778-4950 or Crime Stopper V.I. at 1(800) 222-8477 (TIPS).
