Two men were killed in separate shootings Friday on St. Croix, the V.I. Police Department reported.
According to the VIPD, the victims were identified as 24-year-old Jensen Esptan and 29-year-old Randy Tang Yuk. Three other men were injured in the two incidents.
At about 10:30 p.m., the 911 emergency call center reported a man down at a home in Old Fredensborg, Frederick. At the scene officers discovered an unresponsive Hispanic male in the residence’s fenced yard, with several individuals sitting watching a baseball game.
Next of kin identified the deceased as Esptan.
A wounded 41-year-old male had been transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital by private vehicle. He had received a gun shot wound to his stomach and taken into surgery, police said.
About an hour later, at 11:41 p.m., 911 dispatched officers to a report of gunshots in the Mutual Homes Housing Community.
At the scene officers discovered an unresponsive male at Building 56 in Mutual Homes. He was identified by his mother as Randy Tang Yuk.
Two other men were transported to the hospital, one with a gun wound and the other with a leg injury suffered in falling while trying escape the shooting.
Police are questioning individuals and working on leads.
“I am sending my condolences to friends and family members of the victims and gives assurance that we are doing everything in our power to bring these perpetrators to justice,” Territorial Chief Winsbut McFarlande Sr. said.
“This must not continue; we are all stakeholders in this territory and effective partnership between the community and law Enforcement is essential in fighting crime.”
McFarlande urged anyone with information on the incidents to call him ad 340-712-6043, or you can call the Criminal Investigations Bureau’s anonymous tip line at 340-778-4950, 911, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers pays a monetary reward for tips leading to an arrest, and guarantees the anonymity of the informant.