KINGSHILL – Kertis Tonge, Jr., 34, was given a sentence of life without parole for the 2024 murder of Quanza Heath, Virgin Islands Attorney General Gordon Rhea said today.
This sentence comes after a jury convicted Tonge of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession of ammunition on September 10, 2025.
On October 23, 2024, Kertis Tonge, Jr. went uninvited to a Lorraine Village Apartment shortly
before noon.
After getting into a dispute with the occupants, he intentionally shot and killed Heath, who was inside of the apartment.
In total he fired three shots into the apartment occupied by Heath, an adult female, and multiple children.
After a citizen called 911, responding officers found Quanza with multiple gunshot wounds and quickly transported him to Juan F. Luis Hospital for emergency treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Superior Court Judge Ernest E. Morris, Jr. handed down the sentence to Tonge on November 19, 2025.
Attorney General Rhea expressed gratitude to everyone involved for their hard work, including
the prosecutors, investigators, the Victim Witness Advocate, and the Virgin Islands Police
Department.
