Crime & Safety
VIPD Pleads For Assistance After Man Is Shot And Killed At Work
Victor Burgos was shot and killed Tuesday morning while working as part of a roadside crew on Carton Road. Police are asking for tips.
ST. CROIX, USVI — The Virgin Islands Police Department held a press conference on Tuesday, August 24, to address the most recent victim of gun violence on St. Croix. A man was working on Carlton Road as part of a roadwork crew on Tuesday morning when he was shot and killed, according to police.
The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Victor Burgos of Smithfield. Police say that while he was working, a silver SUV drove up and someone in the vehicle shot Burgos. The vehicle then fled the area, traveling south. Burgos died at the scene.
On Tuesday afternoon, the VIPD held a press conference to address the shooting and the recent spike in gun violence throughout the territory. Sean Santos, Deputy Chief of Police for the St. Croix District, and Lieutenant Naomi Joseph, Chief Detective for the Criminal Investigation Bureau, pleaded with the public to come forward with information about the homocide.
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"We don't know Mr. Burgos. We don't know his lifestlye. We don't know his background. But the community knows," said Lieutenant Joseph. "And we're asking you to please help us so we can bring some type of closure for the family."
Lieutenant Joseph addressed the public at length, simultaneously asking for community assistance while scolding the public for remaining silent as crimes continue to happen. "You're holding the information to your chest while more people are harmed," said Lieutenant Joseph. "Call us. We need your help. because we cannot solve crimes without the bigger police force, you, the community at large."
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When pressed on the cause behind the spike in crime, Deputy Chief of Police Santos blamed opportunistic criminals. And while he acknowledged that the VIPD faces some manpower issues, he stressed that lack of officers is not the reason crimes are occuring nor is it why some crimes remain unsolved.
The VIPD also announced that rewards are available for information on the recent crimes, but did not provide any additional detail.
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