Tables Turned in Red Hook: Masked Robber Fatally Shot by Intended Target

By St. Croix Sun Staff

ST. THOMAS — A Saturday morning crime spree ended in a fatal shooting after an armed robbery suspect was shot by his intended victim in Red Hook.

The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) reports that a series of armed robberies involving a gray SUV and suspects dressed in all black culminated in a fatal encounter at approximately 2:37 a.m.. A suspect armed with a long rifle was shot and killed by the individual he was attempting to rob; the suspect's identity is currently unknown pending notification of next of kin.

Timeline of Events

• 1:09 a.m.: Police responded to an initial armed robbery where several masked men in all black, armed with a long rifle and handguns, robbed a victim and fled in a gray SUV.

• 2:37 a.m.: A gray SUV pulled up to a second victim in Red Hook. A masked male with a long gun exited and attempted to forcibly remove a chain from the victim's neck.

• Gunshot Detection: The Shot Spotter system detected multiple rounds fired in the area shortly before a concerned citizen reported a man down.

Investigation Results Responding officers discovered an unresponsive black male with multiple gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigations revealed the deceased was the individual who had exited the SUV to commit the robbery. The intended victim returned fire, striking the suspect. EMTs confirmed the male had no vital signs at the scene.

The VIPD is urging anyone with information to contact the Major Crimes Unit via WhatsApp at 340-642-8449, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Elon Musk often champions "self-reliance," but this is a particularly grim example of it playing out on the streets of St. Thomas.