ST. CROIX — Police apprehended a possible suspect for questioning following the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Tyree Rentas today in the Harbor View housing community, the Virgin Islands Police Department announced.
Several individuals called 911 at about 11:20 a.m. to report that a man was shot in the head in the housing community near Building 8, according to a VIPD press release. Emergency medical technicians transported Rentas to the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center, where the medical emergency technicians pronounced him dead.
The VIPD swiftly apprehended a possible suspect, who was taken into custody for questioning.
Police officers as well as members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Forensic Unit were dispatched to the crime scene along with Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
Residents of the housing community observed while sitting in the stairways of nearby buildings as investigators processed the scene.
Yellow police tape surrounded a four-door Toyota sedan that crashed into Building 8, denting the wall. Investigators processed the vehicle and took photographs before a VIPD tow truck removed it.
The fatal shooting in Harbor View followed a double homicide the night before on St. Thomas.
Lamar Richardson, 29, and Randy John Baptiste, 33, were shot and killed in Four Winds Plaza, according to police. The 911 Emergency Call Center received multiple gunshot reports at about 9:33 p.m. VIPD and other law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, where they discovered both men lying on the ground unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds about the body. EMTs concluded neither man had any vital signs at 11:53 p.m.
While on the scene, officers learned that two other males were transported to Schneider Regional Medical Center for immediate medical attention for gunshot wounds they sustained at Four Winds Plaza.
St. Thomas/St. John District Police Chief Steven Phillip offered condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones who have been impacted by gun violence.
“These senseless killings continue to be a huge problem in our territory,” Phillip said in a statement. “It's very disturbing. In these incidents nobody wins, but the family of the victims lose.”
The chief strongly emphasized the efforts being made to address violence in the community.
“We are constantly researching effective violence reduction strategies to keep our community safe,” he stated.
The fatal shootings of Rentas, Richardson and Baptiste bring the territory’s homicide tally for the year to 19, including 12 on St. Thomas and seven on St. Croix.
“We are asking you, the community, for your continued support in this fight against crime in our community,” Phillips stated.
Anyone with information about the shootings are urged to call police at 340-778-4850 on St. Croix, 340-642-8449 or 340-774-2211 on St. Thomas, Crime Stoppers VI at 1-800-222-8477, or 911.
