April 5, 2009 — Two men are dead, one is hospitalized and two are under arrest after a weekend of violence on St. Thomas.
Claudius George, 24, a native of Dominica, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of Ernest Oliver, who police say was George's cousin. Police were called around 11 p.m. Saturday to a home in Anna's Retreat, where Oliver was found not breathing and bleeding from the head. The two had been in a fight when Oliver fell and hit his head, according to a release from the V.I. Police Department.
St. Thomas native Kareem W. "Squeezie" George, 32, has been arrested in connection with the non-fatal shooting of another man that took place just after 9 p.m. Saturday. The unidentified victim was standing on the street near the basketball court in Hospital Ground when he was shot at least twice by someone driving by in a car. Police picked George up after speaking with witnesses in the area.
The third incident, which resulted in the shooting death of 39-year-old Cedric Rouse, is still being investigated. At about 1:15 p.m. Sunday police were alerted to gunfire in the vicinity of the basketball court in Hospital Ground. When emergency medical technicians arrived, they found Rouse with no vital signs.
Rouse has a long history of criminal activity, according to Police Commissioner James McCall.
Much of the violence occurring on St. Thomas is the result of "beefs with people on different turf," according to one informed source.
Kareem W. George has been remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending further court action. Claudius George is also being held without bail pending a court hearing.
Police Chief Rodney Querrard said several people had witnessed the Rouse shooting and investigators were collecting statements and evidence from the scene.
He asked that anyone with information about this or any other crime contact the Major Crime Bureau at 340-715-5522 or 715-5514, the chief's office at 715-5548 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS. St. Thomas residents can call 911 from a land line or 776-9110 from a cell phone.
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