CRUZ BAY — A parking lot owner on St. John told police he was kidnapped at gunpoint and forced back into his Enighed residence early Saturday morning. Two shots were fired, but police said no one was injured.
Bernard Wesselhoft of Enighed, the owner of Slim Man’s Parking Lot, said he had just parked his car across the street from his residence when a man dressed all in black approached him from behind and hit him on the back of his head with a gun about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Wesselhoft expressed to officers that the suspect instructed him not to look back,” VIPD spokesman Karl Caesar said. “The perpetrator forced Wesselhoft by gunpoint to the front door of his residence and ordered him to open the door.”
During this exchange at #20 Enighed, Wesselhoft was able to get separation from the suspect by pushing the man and was able to enter the residence and lock the door.
“Soon after Wesselhoft told officers that two gunshots were fired,” Caesar said.
Police on the scene were able to recover a spent shell casing along with one round of ammunition.
Officers secured the scene and notified the VIPD’s Forensic Unit for further processing of it.
No one was injured during the incident. Police continued to canvass the area in search of the suspect and any potential weapons.
This matter is currently under active investigation.
Anyone having any information about this or any other crime please contact the Virgin Islands Police Department at (340) 774-2211, Major Crime Unit at (340) 714-9830 or the Criminal Investigation Bureau (340) 714-9807. You can also contact the anonymous tip line Crimestoppers USVI at 1 (800) 222-8477 or 911.
“We need your help and the entire community’s involvement,” Caesar said.
