April 8, 2004 – A St. Croix fisherman was shot to death on Wednesday night outside a friend's home in Estate La Reine, police officials said on Thursday.
Around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Francisco Martinez, 44, of Old Frezensberg was shot multiple times after he and two friends returned from a fishing trip, according to Sgt. Thomas Hannah, Police Department spokesman.
Hannah said the victim and his friends were preparing their catch for typically busy Holy Thursday sales when Martinez walked outside where he was gunned down. Police would not say how many shots were fired, but when medical personnel arrived on the scene Martinez was dead.
No motive or suspects have been identified, Hannah said, and "we don't know if there was a confrontation. We don't know if their was an exchange of words."
Hannah said early reports that police had seized a gun at the scene were inaccurate, as were reports that a gambling game was in progress when the shootings occurred.
Wednesday night's killing is the fourth on St. Croix this year and the ninth in the territory.
