Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Condolences Following the Tragic Death of CAHS Student Tre’Vante Etienne:
The Virgin Islands Department of Education is deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless loss of Tre’Vante Etienne. At only 15 years old, Tre’Vante’s life was taken far too soon, depriving his family, friends, classmates, and community of a young man whose future was still unfolding. This act of violence has left an immeasurable void and serves as a painful reminder of the devastating impact gun violence continues to have on our children, families, and community. No parent should have to bury a child, and no school community should have to mourn the loss of one of its students under such heartbreaking circumstances.
Tre’Vante’s death is a heartbreaking loss that has left a profound void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. As a student at Charlotte Amalie High School, he will be remembered by his classmates, teachers, administrators, and staff whose lives he touched during his time at the school.
On behalf of the Virgin Islands Department of Education, I extend my deepest condolences to Tre’Vante’s family and loved ones during this unimaginable time of grief. We pray for comfort, strength, and peace for all who mourn his loss.
The loss of any child is devastating. Our children are among our community’s most precious gifts, and when a young life is taken so tragically, the pain reverberates throughout our entire Virgin Islands community. This tragedy serves as a painful reminder that violence continues to threaten the safety, well-being, and future of our youth. Such acts are unacceptable and cannot become the norm in our society.
As we grieve, we must also stand united in our commitment to seek justice. We urge anyone with information related to this incident to come forward and contact the Virgin Islands Police Department. Your information may be critical in helping investigators bring those responsible to justice and provide answers to a grieving family and community. If you know something, please say something.
We also recognize that many students, faculty, and staff members will need support as they process this tremendous loss. To provide a safe space for grieving, reflection, and healing, the Charlotte Amalie High School administration will host a Grief Support Meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Ruth E. Thomas Auditorium. Students, staff, and members of the school community are encouraged to attend and access the support services that will be available.
Statement from Commissioner Vincent L. Roberts Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation:
With profound sadness and a heavy heart, I extend my deepest condolences to Tre’vante Ettienne’s family, friends, teammates, coaches, and loved ones.
Tre’vante was more than a participant in the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation’s Nike RBI Program; he was a valued member of our sports family. He was a kind-hearted young man whose positive spirit, respect for others, and love for the game left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
The senseless loss of such a promising young life is a tragedy that has shaken our entire community. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a child, and no teammate should have to say goodbye to a friend under such heartbreaking circumstances.
As a department, we believe sports offer young people opportunities to learn, grow, and build lifelong friendships. Tre’vante embodied many of the values we strive to instill in our youth—teamwork, respect, perseverance, and compassion. His memory will forever remain part of our Nike RBI family.
Today, we mourn with his family and all those whose lives he touched. We also recommit to supporting our young people and to working together as a community to build a safer, more hopeful future for the next generation.
On behalf of the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation, I ask the community to keep Tre’vante’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May God grant them strength, comfort, and peace in the days ahead, and may Tre’vante’s memory live on through the many lives he touched.
