May 23, 2001 – For the second time in less than a month, the winding, narrow Garden Street turned into a major crime scene following a fatal shooting. But unlike the early morning April 30 shooting, Tuesday afternoon's murder of Hakeem Salem attracted a crowd that grew as word spread of the death.
Salem, 27, of St. Thomas was reportedly sitting in his white Pontiac Trans Am when he was shot in the head and arm. Police sources confirmed Tuesday night that the murder may have been the result of a shootout, as a gun was found in Salem's vehicle.
The vehicle sat parked facing north with a bullet hole to its side as investigators combed the area for clues to what led to the 4:45 p.m. shooting. It occurred within a few feet of the April 30 shooting that left Craig Bess dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. Bess's body was found in the back of his green pickup truck, across the street from the spot where Salem was shot.
While investigators searched the area for clues and spoke to residents who reported having heard two gunshots ring out in the late afternoon, a man identified only as "Crucian" was rushed into surgery at the Roy Schneider Hospital for a gunshot wound to the chest. He had been transported by a private vehicle to the hospital.
Investigators later intercepted the vehicle and took its driver into custody for questioning Tuesday evening.
While police were holding the transport vehicle for forensics processing, sources said, another unidentified person attempted to gain access to it and drive it away. This person got into a scuffle with a police officer who had found a gun on the unidentified man during his arrest.
The identity of the suspect was not known late Tuesday night. It also could not be learned whether he or "Crucian" were connected to the Salem murder.
The death of Salem, an employee at Tire Kingdom and proprietor of a local furniture store, attracted a crowd both at the crime scene and at the hospital. In fact, the crowd at the hospital grew so quickly that police called in Special Operations Bureau personnel to provide security.
Police began interviewing witnesses Tuesday evening but would not comment on any suspected motives for the shooting or whether information gathered had pointed toward a suspect.
Police authorities urged anyone with information on the shooting to contact investigators at 715-5546 or the police emergency number, 911.
Salem's death is the 10th in the territory this year and the seventh in the St. Thomas-St. John district. As of the end of May 2000, there had been seven murders in the territory, five on St. Thomas.
