A deadly weekend unfolded across the territory with a wave of gun violence that left three people dead and three others injured, including a 14-year-old boy, in separate shootings on St. John and St. Croix.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday, chaos broke out in Cruz Bay, St. John, as police responded to two shooting scenes within minutes of each other.
The first call came from the Penn Trucking area, where officers and bystanders reported a male shot. Moments later, ShotSpotter and multiple citizens reported more gunfire near the Roundabout, this time involving a silver vehicle. Officers already on the first scene reported hearing the second round of shots in real time.
Two victims from the first shooting were taken to Myrah Keating Clinic, then transferred to Schneider Regional Medical Center. One has since been released, while the other remains hospitalized in stable condition.
At the second scene, emergency responders found two men dead inside the vehicle—23-year-old Lee Joseph Christian and 28-year-old Jordan Brierley Clendinen, both of St. John. The double homicide has left the close-knit island community reeling.
The violence began earlier Saturday night on St. Croix, where a 29-year-old man was gunned down in Grove Place, and hours later, a 14-year-old boy was shot multiple times while walking home.
At approximately 6:15 p.m., VIPD’s ShotSpotter system picked up multiple gunshots near Cozy Corner, and police soon discovered a man fatally wounded. He was later identified by family as Dasha Graham, 29.
Then at 11:03 p.m., a barrage of 30 rounds rang out near the John F. Kennedy housing community. A 14-year-old, struck several times mostly on the left side of his body, managed to call 911 himself before collapsing. He was transported by ambulance to Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he remains in recovery and is expected to undergo surgery.
There has been no official confirmation that the shootings are connected, but the territory-wide surge in gun violence has heightened concerns across the Virgin Islands and placed added pressure on law enforcement.
Police urge anyone with information to contact: Emergency 911; VIPD’s Criminal Investigation Bureau – St. Croix at 340-778-2211 or St. Thomas-St. John at 340-774-2211; or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). All information is confidential.
St. Croix Source
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