A young man was shot and killed Friday night behind the Student Center at the University of the Virgin Islands’ St. Croix campus, the university reported Saturday.
The incident occurred between 11:20 to 11:30 p.m. Friday while an end-of-the-semester tramp and party was occurring elsewhere on campus.
The 22-year-old male victim was not a UVI student, according to the university’s news release.
According to the V.I. Police Department, officers were informed at about 11:40 p.m. that a shooting victim was being treated at the Governor Juan Luis Memorial Hospital. Police were unable to interview the victim due to his injuries.
The police investigation found that the victim was in the parking lot of the university behind the Student Center when he began to yell that he was being robbed. Witnesses heard at least one shot, and said at least one person was seen approaching the victim near his car. That person fled the area after the shot was fired.
The area was too dark to identify the person, witnesses said. The victim was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.
It was the third homicide on St. Croix since the beginning of the year, and the seventh in the territory.
"While there are no on-going threats evident on the campus, the university community is asked to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately," said Nanyamka Farrelly, interim director of Public Relations at UVI.
She said the VIPD is investigating the incident and the university will cooperate.
"UVI takes the safety of the community seriously and will utilize all resources available to ensure a safe environment," Farrelly said.
Neither the police nor the university released the name of the victim Saturday. Detectives from the Major Crime Bureau are investigating the case. Anyone with information about the murder can call detectives at 1-340-712-6077 or 1-340-712-6037. Information can also be called to 911, the UVI Security Department at 1-340-692-4155, or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.