A man was killed Saturday night near the Watergut Shanty in Christiansted when a verbal altercation turned violent, the V.I. Police Department reported.
The victim was identified as 36-year-old Gregory Barnes of Christiansted. It was the 11th homicide on St. Thomas since the beginning of the year, the 25th in the territory.
According to police, at 7:03 p.m. Saturday citizens called the 911 center t report shots fired near the shanty. At the scene, officers discovered an unresponsive male victim with multiple gunshots to the body.
Witnesses told police the victim, identified by next of kin as Barnes, had been in a verbal altercation with another male individual who discharged the shots at Barnes.
The suspect left the area in a red Ford Explorer SUV.
Barnes was taken to the Juan F. Luis Memorial Hospital by ambulance. He was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. by the doctor on duty.
Police urged anyone with information about the crime to call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-778 2211, 911, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.
“11th homicide in St. Thomas”, when did Watergut become St.Thomas?