A St. Croix woman and her 15-year-old daughter were hospitalized Thursday evening after days of teenage taunting ended in a fed-up father shooting both, police said Friday. The July 4 violence had a community searching for answers, officials said.
Witnesses said three boys had been harassing the 17-year-old son of Miguel Marrero, 52, daring him to come out of his Candido Guadalupe Terrace housing community home and fight. Marrero responded Wednesday by waving a loaded 40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun at the youth, who promptly scattered, according to court records.
Marrero said he knew the boys and their families, and considered them a gang — saying they’d sent his son photos of assault rifles, according to police.
The taunting continued Thursday with the boys shouting outside the home and was continued later by a 15-year-old girl, according to court records. Encouraged by Marrero to fight the girl, the boy beat the girl to the ground, witnesses told police. The girl’s mother, who had been arrested on assault charges in April, ran up and grabbed Marrero’s shirt, then punched him in both eyes, bloodying one with the large ring she was wearing, according to court records.
Marrero told police he was partially blinded by the blood and thought up to 10 people were rushing at him when he opened fire, according to court records. The girl told police her mother was arguing with Marerro when the shooting started about 5:40 p.m. The two shots hit the girl in the leg and ankle as she was running away, and hit her mother in the back. The girl was treated and released from Juan F. Luis hospital while her mother underwent emergency surgery for extensive injuries, police said.
Marrero left the scene in a silver Kia Soul, tossing the gun in the bushes, while his children ran to the Ann Schrader Command police station out of fear of retaliation and to report the incident, police said.
A video of the fight and shooting circulated on social media corroborating the victims’ and witnesses’ statements, police said.
Police said Marrero told them what happened, saying, “I shot that minor tonight.”
Marrero was charged with assault, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition within 100 feet of a school, reckless endangerment, child abuse, intentionally discharging a firearm, brandishing a deadly weapon, disturbing the peace by fighting, and instigating or aiding a fight.
Marrero was not able to post his $75,000 bail.
The July 4 incident deeply traumatized the community, said Department of Human Services spokesperson Ryan O. Nugent.
The department plans to hold an open-door therapy session at 11 a.m. Saturday dedicated to providing a safe space for the children and parents to process the experience, receive professional guidance, and attempt eventual healing.
“We encourage parents to bring their children who are being affected by the incident, as this forum will provide crucial support to help them understand and cope with their feelings in a nurturing environment,” Nugent said by email.
The Healing After Trauma: Support for Families Affected by Violence event will be at the Candido Guadalupe Community Center, hosted by Human Services, the V.I. Housing Authority, the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix, Greater Changes, Dr. Marshall Consulting Services, Island Therapy Solutions, VIPD Victims Advocate, and others.
