Editor's note: The two victims were later identified as Rashawn Rasheed Richards, 19, of Berg's Home, and Orlando Bennett, 21.
Aug. 12, 2003 – Two men are dead after a mid-day shooting spree in Hospital Ground on Monday.
One man died shortly after arriving at Roy L. Schneider Hospital, where the victims were taken after the shootings. The other died overnight.
Police did not initially release the name of either victim, pending notification of next of kin.
According to a Police Department release, officers went to the scene of the shootings at 1:43 p.m. after receiving a telephoned report of shots fired in the area near the basketball court at the Winston Raymo Center.
A witness said a large crowd gathered around one of the victims after the shootings, and that he "saw no human compassion, only a lust for blood" at the scene. He further described the onlookers as a "mob" with blank expressions on their faces as they stared at the victim who was lying in a gut bleeding.
Identifying himself only as a "born here" St. Thomian, the witness said that senseless shootings have become so common that people are "inured by it."
Police had no motive or suspects in the case as of Monday evening and had not found any weapon believed to have been used in the shootings. They also had no description of suspects or of the weapon or weapons used.
The homicides are the 15th and 16th recorded on St. Thomas this year and the 19th and 20th in the territory. At this time a year ago, there had been 16 killings recorded on St. Thomas and 26 in the territory for 2002, which would end up being a record year for homicides.
Anyone with information concerning the shootings, or who may have witnessed the incident, is asked to call the Major Crime Unit at 715-5546 or to call 715-5534 or 911.
A reward may be offered for information, the release said, and all information will be held in confidence.
Editor's note: An earlier report stated one man had died and one man was in critical condition. The second man later died from his wounds.
