June 1, 2004 – An Education Complex Vocational School student was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon at the school.
The 19-year-old student was shot in the shoulder area, St. Croix Deputy Police Chief Herminio Velazaquez said shortly before 5 p.m. He said police apprehended a shotgun presumed to be the weapon used by the assailant.
According to an unconfirmed report, police also seized a second weapon at the scene of the shooting.
"A couple of individuals" were in custody in connection with the shooting, Velazquez said. He declined to give further details.
A knowledgeable witness who asked not to be identified said the shooting took place at the end of the school day as students were waiting outside Complex to board buses for transportation home. According to the witness, a youth identified as a Central High School student pulled up in a car and opened fire with what the witness described as a sawed-off shotgun.
The witness said the shooting was related to an incident that occurred at Randall "Doc" James Race Track on Monday.
Members of the slain student's family were at Juan F. Luis Hospital.
Police did not release the victim's identity. No further details were immediately available.
Kurt Vialet, Complex High School principal, and Roy Pemberton, Vocational School director, announced that no classes will be held at the facility on Wednesday and that announcement will be made on Wednesday of when classes will resume.
They called a meeting of the faculties of both schools for 8 a.m. Wednesday. All faculty and staff are to report to the schools as usual, the Education Department said in a release. Students were told to use Wednesday to study for the upcoming end-of-year exams.
