Oct. 23, 2006 — Law officers wasted no time apprehending a suspect wanted in connection with Saturday's fatal shooting of a St. Croix man, nabbing him Monday as a result of "active community involvement," said Territorial Chief of Police Novelle E. Francis Jr.
Randy Burke, 27, also known as "Asha," was apprehended by VIPD officers without incident at approximately 4:50 p.m. Monday at the David Hamilton Jackson Housing Community in Christiansted. Police charged Burke with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Julius Cupid, 20, a resident of St. Croix. Cupid was fatally wounded in a shooting incident that occurred Saturday in the Aureo Diaz Housing Community.
According to preliminary police reports, officers were dispatched to a shooting incident in the vicinity of Building 15 at Aureo Diaz at approximately 6:20 p.m. Officers discovered Cupid lying across the railing of a second-floor apartment, apparently unresponsive and bleeding from the lower portion of his face as the result of a single gunshot wound. An ambulance took him to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he died from his injuries at approximately 7:20 p.m. Witnesses last saw Burke fleeing the Aureo Diaz area in a vehicle.
Police had searched for Burke since Saturday's shooting, considering him armed and dangerous. The chief commended the public for coming forward and offering information as to the suspect's whereabouts.
"Community members coming forward were instrumental to the apprehension of the suspect," Francis said. He also commended the officers of the Street Enforcement Team and Criminal Investigation Bureau for Burke's speedy apprehension.
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