ST. THOMAS — The V.I. Police Department has announced the arrest of 20-year-old Ajani Prentice in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred early Thursday morning at the Oswald Harris Court housing community in St. Thomas. The territory’s total homicides for 2025 now stand at nineteen: ten on St. Thomas and nine on St. Croix.
According to police, the incident unfolded around 2:48 a.m. on June 12, when a man called 911 to report a hit-and-run auto collision in the vicinity of Oswald Harris Court. Moments later, additional calls reported gunfire in the same area. Responding officers discovered an unresponsive Black male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to Schneider Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
The deceased was identified as 28-year-old Shyiane Degallerie.
Following the incident, an investigation by the VIPD’s Major Crimes Unit revealed that Prentice allegedly shot Degallerie after Degallerie pulled a firearm and pointed it at a member of Prentice’s family. Prentice was arrested on the evening of Saturday, June 14, and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm.
The case remains under active investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact 911, the VIPD at (340) 774-2211, or the Major Crimes Division at (340) 714-9823 or (340) 714-9829. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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