The V.I. Police Department on Monday identified the victim of Sunday’s fatal shooting as 19-year-old Sheldon Benjamin Jr.
The shooting took place around noon Sunday on Monster Hill in Estate Tutu. Police were notified of a shooting and traveled to the scene.
Police said the victim was driving in the area when an unknown number of assailants fired on the vehicle. Benjamin appeared to have exited the vehicle and tried to get away, but was shot several times and collapsed in the road.
It was the 13th homicide on St. Thomas since the first of the year, the 23rd in the territory.
According to the preliminary report, when police arrived they saw a white four-door Toyota Corolla in the roadway with the engine still running. The vehicle’s rear glass was shattered and there was evidence of gunshot damage to the body of the vehicle.
A few feet away police found an unresponsive male victim in the road. Emergency medical technicians on the scene said the victim was shot several times and they could not detect any vital signs.
The victim was taken to the Schneider Regional Medical center where he was pronounced dead by medical staff.
Major Crime Detectives are investigating this case and urge anyone with information to help them solve the crime to please come forward. Anyone who saw vehicles or people in the area around midday Sunday can call the VIPD Major Crimes Unit at 1340-642-8449, the emergency 911 center, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers VI, at 1-800-222-8477.
