July 17, 2005 — One man was killed and another injured in a hail of gunfire that erupted about 10:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of a Frenchtown service station.
Asst. Police Commissioner James McCall on Sunday confirmed the incident, noting that the shooting took place in the parking lot of the Stop 'n Go gas station.
The murder victim died at the Schneider Regional Medical Center and the second victim of the shooting was listed in stable condition Sunday. The gas station sits adjacent to the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School.
McCall said Major Crime Unit investigators are interviewing potential witnesses to the shooting. "We are continuing to investigate this latest murder," he added.
Territorial Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. said an argument that took place at a high school basketball game earlier in the evening was a possible motive for the slaying.
Eyewitnesses who spoke Sunday morning on the condition of anonymity said three gunmen came across the highway on foot from Western Cemetery No. 3 and sprayed the parking lot with automatic gunfire, striking two individuals.
"One of the men fell here and the other right over there," the witness said pointing to blood stains that remained on the concrete pavement between the line of gas pumps. A traffic control box on the sidewalk between the two-lane highway and the gas station was struck by an apparent stray bullet and a Jeep Liberty owned by the Housing Finance Authority was also damaged by the gunfire. The HFA offices are located adjacent to the convenience store and laundromat.
Schneider Hospital Chief Operating Officer Amos Carty Jr. said the murder victim died of a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim who survived "underwent emergency surgery on Sunday and is in stable condition in the surgical unit." Carty said the surviving victim's injuries appeared to be "mostly superficial."
Police officials could not provide the name of the shooting victims on Sunday. But McCall said earlier in the day the deceased was a minor.
The 21st homicide of the year in the territory occurred about four blocks west of the scene where two New York tourists, Tristan Charlier and Leon Roberts, were gunned down on June 15.
Both McCall and Francis urged anyone with additional information that could aid investigators to contact police at either 774-2211 or emergency 911.
