ST. CROIX — The parents of two men killed during the weekend in unrelated shootings are grieving the deaths of their children while questioning how the Virgin Islands Police Department will respond to bring the killers to justice.
Walton “Selah” Macedon, 67, St. Croix, was shot multiple times at about 7:42 a.m. Sunday at a residence in Estate Golden Rock as he was preparing to go cycling with the Mango Tree Riders. He was transported for medical treatment to the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he died from his wounds.
Camille Macedon, a Calypsonian known as “King Derby,” said his son was a “beloved person” who did not have any interaction with law enforcement. He said his son loved horses and raced cars.
“He was that type of person always willing to help somebody and everybody,” Camille Macedon said, adding that his son was well liked by the public.
Demaris Belardo, Walton Macedon’s niece, described her uncle as a “caring and loving” man.
“He’s always willing to lend a helping hand and ready to greet you with a big smile,” she wrote in a text message to WTJX. “His knowledge was like a cookbook, but he was always ready to share it with others.”
While Walton Macedon was shot Sunday in a neighborhood on St. Croix, another Virgin Islander was gunned down the day before on St. Thomas.
Venquon Richardson, 26, of St. Thomas, was shot to death at about 8:35 p.m. Saturday outside of Gas Works in Estate Bovoni. Emergency medical technicians concluded that Richardson, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body, did not have any vital signs.
Natisha Richardson described her son as a “devoted father,” noting that he had one daughter.
“He was a loving child, always helping out someone, putting other people in front of him,” she said.
Natisha Richardson recalled hearing the gunfire that claimed her son’s life.
“My chest hurt me, and I run out the house,” she said, adding that she was looking around to see where everybody was gathered. “I got a phone call saying it was my son.”
Natisha Richardson said police prevented her from seeing her son’s body after the shooting.
“They refused for me to identify my child body and to see my child,” she said, noting that she felt hurt because somebody leaked video surveillance footage of the shooting on social media.
After the video circulated on social media, the Virgin Islands Police Department released it to the media via email Sunday morning along with a press release announcing Venquon Richardson’s killing. The 14-second video shows three, armed individuals dressed in black with their heads covered approach the victim as he stood between a vehicle and a gas pump. He ducked for cover but was unable to evade the bullets.
Camille Macedon spoke out about illegal firearms in the territory, suggesting there are too many guns on the street.
“We got to do something about the guns we have because that is the biggest issue I see right now,” he said. “What are they going to do about these shootings? It’s really, really heartrending, you know.”
While Camille Macedon questioned what police are going to do stop gun crime, Natisha Richardson called for more action from homicide detectives.
“They have all these videos, cameras up but then you still can’t crack a case,” she said. “What the purpose of all these cameras up if you can’t crack a case?”
The killings mark the 12th homicide on St. Croix and 17th on St. Thomas for the year, including two considered as justifiable at this time.
Detectives are investigating both homicides. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8744, the Major Crimes Unit on St. Thomas at 340-642-8449, or the Criminal Investigation Bureau on St. Croix at 340-778-4950.
