USVI Homicides Reach 46 After Shootings
The United States Virgin Islands has recorded its 46th homicide of the year following the fatal shooting of a woman in St. Croix. The incident occurred just hours after a deadly shooting on St. Thomas, highlighting ongoing violent crime concerns in the neighbouring territory.
The homicide count in the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands has reached 46 for the year following two fatal shootings over the weekend, including the murder of a woman in her driveway on St. According to the Virgin Islands Police Department, the latest victim was identified as Torae Sanders.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Sanders had just arrived at her residence in Estate Rattan late Saturday evening when two unidentified individuals approached her vehicle and opened fire. Sanders was struck in the upper body by multiple gunshots. Emergency medical responders transported her to the Juan F.
Luis Hospital and Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries. VIPD Director of Communications Glen Dratte stated that the suspects remain unidentified and described the ongoing investigation by the Major Crimes Unit as very active. Police have not yet confirmed the motive behind the attack or established whether Sanders knew her assailants.
Her death marked the 28th homicide on St. Croix this year and occurred less than 24 hours after another fatal shooting on St. In that incident, 39-year-old Evan Haynes Jr., a resident of Ohio, was killed early Saturday morning on Hull Bay Road. Authorities reported that emergency calls were received after a vehicle chase where occupants of another car fired multiple shots at Haynes and his companions.
Haynes was pronounced dead at the scene, bringing the homicide tally on St. John has recorded no homicides so far in 2024. The recent surge in gun violence follows a deadly span on St. Croix in late October, where three other individuals were killed in separate incidents across Frederiksted and Christiansted in less than four days.
For residents in the British Virgin Islands, violent crime trends in the neighbouring USVI remain a matter of close interest due to the strong familial, social, and economic ties connecting the sister islands. Cross-border law enforcement collaboration often plays a key role in regional security efforts across the Virgin Islands archipelago.
Authorities in the USVI continue to urge anyone with information regarding these homicides to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Crime Stoppers VI, or emergency services.
Primary source: VINO