A man lost his life after being shot in the Tutu High Rise housing community, also known as Ras Valley, in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI) early Thursday, August 31, 2017. Photo: VIC

[US] Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) Commissioner Delroy Richards said that at about 3:30 A.M., officers were dispatched to Tutu High Rise, and found a man — who Mr Richards said was 22 years old — lifeless on the ground.

Today’s homicide in Tutu High Rise is the second shooting incident in the housing community in the past four days; on Sunday, a man, who is believed to be brain-dead, according to the commissioner, was shot in the head while being picked up by a friend.

Police are seeking help with both incidents. Call the VIPD’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211. You may also contact Crime Stoppers USVI with an anonymous tip.

According to information provided to The Consortium by the VIPD, this morning’s gun-related homicide on St Thomas brought the St Thomas-St John district count to 20, 1 ahead of the 19 gun-related homicides on St Croix, for a territory-wide total of 39 gun-related homicides this year. When vehicular homicides are factored in, the overall number of homicides jumps to 43, with three vehicular homicides on St Croix and one on St Thomas.