CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Three men were shot — one fatally — as St. Thomas notched two homicides in less than 13 hours today.
Bertstrand Gilkes, Jr. 26, was transported by ambulance to the hospital but “succumbed to his injuries,” the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received calls that shots were fired in the Bovoni housing community at 3:11 p.m. today.
“Officers traveled to the area, where they learned that three males sustained gunshot wounds,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said.
Two of the victims were transported to the Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC) by private vehicle for treatment, and the other was transported to the hospital via ambulance.
One of the victims, identified by next of kin as Gilkes, “subsequently succumbed to his injuries,” Derima said.
“The other two victims are in stable condition,” he said.
Shaq’kil Roberts, 26, was shot to death about 1:47 a.m. today near Tutu, according to the VIPD.
There have been five murders in St. Thomas in the last seven days.
Gilkes was convicted of second-degree murder nine years ago as a 17-year-old in connection to the shooting death of 19-year-old Oshlyn Francis, Jr. of Jenny’s Hope in August 2011.
He was 16 at the time of the homicide that occurred in Thomasville in September 2010. The former inmate was granted parole from prison in the summer of 2018.
Gilkes was up for parole on the second-degree murder conviction at Red Onion State Prison in Virginia on June 6, 2018.
This incident is currently under active investigation.
Anyone having information regarding this crime is asked to call 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 774-2211 extension 5569 or Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).