A St. Croix police officer received two gunshot wounds from a single bullet—which went through his hand and then lodged in his leg—during a scuffle with an attempted suicide victim Monday at Juan F. Luis Hospital.
At about 11:25 a.m. Monday police responded to a 911 call for assistance with an apparent attempted suicide victim in Estate St. John. When police arrived at the residence, the victim was not there. After conducting a search of the surrounding area, police located a 22-year-old male with apparent superficial self-inflicted wounds to both wrists, according to police.
The male was then transported to Luis hospital by police in the patrol vehicle after being handcuffed for his own protection, according to authorities.
However, after officers removed the handcuffs in a hospital treatment room, the subject lunged for the officer’s service weapon and fired a single shot that entered through the officer’s hand and then lodged in his leg.
According to Police Commissioner Novelle E. Francis Jr., the officer, who has more than 10 years of service on the police force, will undergo surgery to treat the bullet wounds.
The attempted suicide patient will be evaluated by medical doctors to determine his mental state. Charges are pending against the man.
An internal investigation has been launched into the incident. Francis said that, according to department policy, any discharging of shots by a police service weapon is investigated by agents of the Internal Affairs Bureau.
The Source will provide an update on the officer’s condition as soon as information becomes available.
