Four days into the new year, the territory marked its first homicide of 2010 when the body of a 26-year-old male was discovered Monday morning under the balcony of the Food Stamp office in Frederiksted.
According to an audio statement released Monday afternoon by St. Croix VIPD, officers on patrol in Frederiksted saw the man under the balcony at approximately 2:47 a.m. Monday. Upon approaching him they realized he was unresponsive and bleeding from a head wound, apparently from a gunshot.
According to the statement, emergency medical technicians were summoned and attempted “vigorously” to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful.
The identity of the 26-year-old victim, a resident of Estate Concordia, has not been released by police as of late afternoon Monday, pending notification of his kin.
In the statement, St. Croix District Police Chief Oakland Benta said the department will follow all leads. “This police department will not leave any stone unturned. We will investigate every single item, every bit of information brought to us by our outstanding citizens.”
Police are urging anyone with information to call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 712-6077 or 712-6037, the Major Crime Bureau at 712-6075, or the anonymous tip service Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
