A 17-year-old was shot outside a Grand View home in St. Thomas

St. THOMAS. Police Department VI is investigating a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a 17-year-old boy early Sunday morning.

The incident, which happened outside the Grand View apartment complex in St. Thomas, is the latest in a series of tragic killings that have affected youth in the area. St. Thomas accounts for 20 of the 36 homicides affecting the USVI this year.

According to VIPD, at approximately 2:39 a.m. Sunday, 911 was alerted to the sound of multiple gunshots in the Grand View Housing area by a Shot Spotter. VIPD officers who arrived at the scene found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds.

Emergency medical technicians examined the unresponsive victim and determined that he was not showing signs of life. The boy was later identified by his next of kin as Kareem L. Pinney, 17.

VIPD is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the department directly at (340) 774-2211 or the Criminal Investigations Division at (340) 714-9823, (340) 714-9828 or (340) 714-9829. Anonymous tips can also be taken through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online here.