USVI, March 4, 2009-  Police Chief Rodney F. Querrard, Sr. on Wednesday released the name of the homicide victim who was killed in the area of Building 10 in Estate Tutu on February 3. The victim is identified as 51-year-old Larry Thomas, also known as “Kenny”.

Preliminary investigation by the Major Crime Detectives revealed that Thomas was shot multiple times in one of the bottom floor stairwells sometime after midnight however his body was not discovered until 11:57 a.m.

Chief Querrard added “It is unfortunate that a small community such as ours has come to this. Mr. Thomas, who was a mentally challenged individual and frequented the Four Winds Plaza daily, did not deserve to die like he did. No homicide victim deserves to die just because someone decides to take their life.”

Querrard added “Not one call of shots fired was called in to 911. If one person had called in and had reported that shots had been fired in that area might have possibly saved Mr. Thomas’s life. This is totally unacceptable. People in the community needs to know that the next shooting victim might be their child, brother, sister, parent, or even themselves. We as a community need to join together and say that enough is enough! We cannot and should not allow these criminals in our community to run it. Not reporting a crime until it affects you yourself in one way or the other sends a message to the criminals that they can do what they want and it will not be reported. This has to stop!”

Chief Querrard is asking the people who live in the area of Building 10, Estate Tutu to please call in any information they may have reference to this latest “senseless killing.” “Someone in the community saw something! No matter how unimportant you may feel what you heard or saw may be please call it in and let us determine if your information can assist with this or any other investigation.”

Please call the Major Crime Unit at 340-715-5545 or 340-715-5546, the Chiefs Office at 340-715-5548 or 911. Crime Stoppers can also be called at 1-800-222-8477

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