Three victims were injured when two armed men robbed the popular beachside restaurant, Cocoanuts on the Beach, in Frederiksted.
According to witness statements, there were four victims and two armed suspects. The three who were injured suffered cuts and bruises when suspects hit them with handguns.
According to the V.I. Police Department, officers received a call about the incident from 911 dispatchers at about 8:30 p.m. Arriving on the scene, the officers were told by witnesses that two masked men carrying handguns entered the restaurant from the beach side, approached the owner, hit him on the head with a handgun and demanded money.
At the same time, a second suspect hit the owner’s wife with a handgun, witnesses said. The owner complied with the suspects’ demand and gave him all the money from the cash register.
A third victim, an employee of the establishment, told police that one of the suspects approached him, struck him on the head with a handgun and ordered him to the ground.
A fourth victim, a female, told police one of the suspects approached her and demanded money, She gave the suspect her purse containing a cell phone and cash. She was not harmed.
Police did not provide the names of the victims.
The suspects fled the area in one of the victims’ bronze Dodge truck.
This case is being followed up by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Police ask that anyone with knowledge of the crime to call detectives at 712-6037 or 712-6077, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-TIPS.
