Dear Source:
We are the family of Sherett LoShanna James, the 22-year old junior at the University of the Virgin Islands who died after receiving two gunshot wounds to the head on March 25, 2006. Joel Dowdye, a police officer in the Virgin Islands Police Department, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in this matter.
Sherett was the mother of a then three-year-old daughter, J'Briyan Vaughn, and the only child of Caroley Brunn. She was a full time mother and student who also worked a full time job. Sherett is dearly missed by her daughter, her mother, her father, her paternal brothers and sisters and all of her family members. Even though she is told that her mommy died and went to heaven, little J'Briyan still asks, "When is my mommy coming back from heaven?" As for Caroley, everyday she is faced with the reality that she will never attend her daughter's graduation from college, participate in her wedding or see her beautiful smile again. At the time of her death, Joel Dowdye was not Sherett's boyfriend, her husband or the father of her child.
We write this letter because we do not want the community to forget this senseless tragedy and its implications for the rest of the Virgin Islands Community. Sherett did not deserve to die. Crime whether or not it is under the disguise of domestic violence is a very real and serious problem that is plaguing this community. We want people to realize that this could have been and still could be your daughter, your mother, your sister, a close friend, a cousin etc. Before March 25, 2006, we would not have guessed that this beautiful, intelligent and vivacious 22-year-old mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, friend, student, co-worker and employee would be taken away for no good reason.
Moreover, the fact that a police officer is charged with committing this crime is even more appalling. A police officer is someone that has been sworn to protect and serve our community; someone that has the power of the government behind him; someone who has the apparent, actual and implied authority bestowed upon him by the government to protect us; and someone to whom the members of this community entrust their welfare. Many of us already do not trust the police. We can only pray that justice is served and that Officer Dowdye is treated like anyone else who is charged with the commission of a crime of this magnitude. Murder is not only a crime against humanity but it is against God's law, "Thou shalt not kill."
In closing, we hope that the members of the community are paying close attention to this case. The outcome will have a far-reaching effect on the way cases of this type are addressed by our police commissioners, police officers, criminal investigators, the Office of the Attorney General, and our Superior Court.
Sherett was born on October 8, 1983. We hope that the community will join us in the Emancipation Garden on October 8th at 6:00 p.m. for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Sherett.
The Family of Sherett James
St. Thomas
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