CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Police on St. Thomas are investigating three separate homicides that took place in the span of the last 52 hours in Hospital Ground. There has been at least one non-fatal shooting in Hospital Ground in the last 58 hours.
Junior Akimo Freeman, 35, of Hospital Ground was shot to death in the area near where he lived before 8:07 a.m. today, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Officers traveled to the area, in the vicinity of the basketball court, and found an unresponsive male lying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said.
Emergency medical personnel on the scene determined that Freeman “had no vital signs,” according to Derima.
Freeman was arrested by the VIPD on March 31 and charged with illegal drug possession, among other charges.
The victim was positively identified by his next of kin as Freeman.
Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor and St. Thomas Police Chief Ludrick Thomas held an informal press conference at the Charlotte Amalie radio studios of WSTA-AM 1340 “Lucky 13” to address the recent spate of violence in Hospital Ground and take questions from the general public.
Velinor said today police have a “person of interest” who they are actively seeking for questioning about the shootings and put the word out that the VIPD was “coming for” him. But he also appealed to the local community for help to solve the crimes.
“We need to have outcry, we need to be angry, we need to be angry about those who are doing these types of activities,” Velinor said. “Hence, we, the Virgin Islands Police Department, we’re going to be very aggressive in dealing with those who are out on the streets.
“I went through Hospital Ground earlier today, myself and the Assistant Commissioner (Mario Brooks) went through. And anyone that we saw on the streets, we asked: “Hey! What are you doing? Why are you here? You know, so we are asking those questions. And yes, some people have some business to take care of. Some people have to go to work. We get that.
“But if you have no reason to be out, right? Again, there’s an order from the Governor: “Stay at home.” We’re trying to handle the COVID-19 issue; but, likewise, we want your support. We want whatever information you have to provide us with relative to anybody or any information related to these incidents of violence — these shooting incidents in this particular community.”
Meanwhile, at least one radio caller said that Virgin Islands National Guard military police should be stationed next to police in hot spots inside armored vehicles. One reader agreed.
“Need Hospital Ground cordoned off and patrolled by National Guards with Humvees and machine guns,” Pierre Ducloux wrote today on Facebook.
Deshaune Harrigan, 44, of Hospital Ground, was shot to death shortly before 4:19 a.m. Wednesday near Hospital Ground, police said.
Michael McKie, 42, of St. Croix was shot to death in Hospital Ground near the Fish Market shortly before 8:14 p.m. Wednesday, according to police.
Three males with black stockings over their faces shot a woman twice near Goat Street in Hospital Ground about 9:50 p.m. on Tuesday, the VIPD said. The unidentified woman survived the shooting.
All of these cases are currently under active investigation.
Anyone having information regarding these incidents is asked to call 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 774-2211 extension 5606, or Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).