CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Virgin Islands Police Department patrol officers responded to a 911 call that lead officers to the area of Patriot Manor on St. Thomas in response to a male being on a roof top.
Kristian Winston, 22, ultimately plunged off the roof top. When police arrived on the scene they observed Winston on the rooftop of Plantation Manor’s Papaya House.
Police officers began to negotiate with Winston to get him down from the roof top.
He told officers that he “found out some information that he could not handle.”
VIPD spokesman Karl Caesar said “he continued to ramble on and told officers to tell his loved ones that he was sorry, and he did not want this to happen, foreshadowing the events to unfold.”
Winston proceeded to turn to the officers and said, “I can’t deal with this.”
“He twice attempted to jump over the building but slipped during both attempts,” Caesar said. “On his third and final attempt, Winston made the sign of a cross and jumped off the roof top.”
Officers observed that Winston was still showing signs of life when he landed on the ground. Emergency Medical Technicians on the scene administered medical procedures to preserve Winston’s life.
While in route to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital he succumbed to his injuries. He was positively identified by his father at the hospital.
The cause of death will be determined after an autopsy can be completed by the medical professionals.
“An autopsy on Mr. Winston was not performed as yet, therefore classifying as a suicide is premature,” Caesar said. “Will update as soon as the autopsy can be performed.”
The apparent suicide took place sometime after 5:08 a.m. on September 20 at Plantation Manor.
Anyone having any information about this incident or any other crime please contact the Virgin Islands Police Department at (340) 774-2211 ext. 5579 or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 714-9807. You can also contact Crime Stoppers VI at 1(800) 222-8477 or 911.
“The Virgin Islands Police Department is always urging the community to be proactive in seeking help when one notices sudden change in behavior of others and displaying signs of depression,” Caesar said.
