Police on St. Thomas are investigating a pair of crimes, a robbery and an assault that resulted in a male victim being injured by gunshots.
Police were notified of the incident just before 8 p.m. Tuesday. The 38-year-old victim was receiving treatment at the Schneider Regional Medical Center at the time he was interviewed by officers.
According to the V.I. Police Department, the man said he was in the area of Ivan’s Bar in Estate Smith Bay when he was approached by two young men who displayed a handgun and told the victim to give them everything he was carrying. The victim said he refused and grabbed the suspect who was holding the firearm and began struggling with him.
In the course of the struggle, the victim was shot in the upper left area of his chest.
After the shooting the victim fell to the ground, and the suspect continued to shoot at him several times, but missed. The suspects then ran from the scene.
The suspects were described as being between 5 feet, 3 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall. One wore his hair in braids and the other had short hair. They were about 18 to 25 years old and both had slim builds, the victim said.
Police are also investigating a first-degree robbery that occurred Sunday at a convenience store during a power outage.
The robbery occurred about 7:30 p.m. at the Raad Convenience Store on General Gade. Officers were told the store owner was taking care of customers when the power went out. Two masked and armed men entered the store and the customers ran out.
The suspects threatened the owner and demanded cash and his cell phone, which he gave them. The suspects fled the store on foot, running west on Gamble Gade.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau are following up on these cases. Anyone with information on either case can contact detectives at 1-340-714-9834 or 1-340-715-5522, by calling the 911 emergency dispatch center, or calling the anonymous tip service, Crimes Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.
