An armed black man was shot to death in the streets of St. Thomas Monday—yet another example of the wanton violence gripping the territory’s neighborhoods while the annual tourist season peaks a few blocks away.
St. Thomas Police Chief Rodney Querrard announced late Monday that 31-year-old Jibaro A. Nibbs, a St. Thomas native, died from multiple gunshots while sitting in the front seat of a white Acura Integra near the Hospital Ground basketball courts just after 4 p.m.
For a victim, Nibbs was well armed. Police found a .40 caliber pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic handgun on his body, one tucked into his waistband and the other stashed in a holster on his ankle.
“This senseless killing occurred [in] high day, in the presence of many witnesses,” Querrard said in a statement issued after 8 p.m. Monday.
Querrard did not stop his comments there.
“How can one accept this type of behavior? How can a person sleep after witnessing someone losing their life, no matter what problem they may have had with that individual?” Querrard said in an uncharacteristically raw commentary that seemed to show his frustration at the bodies already stacking up this year after a record of 56 homicides in the territory last year.
“We are human beings! This is not supposed to be an accepted practice!” he said. “We as a community all have to stand against this apparent accepted practice among our young black males.”
Police have asked anyone who was in the area of the basketball court or surrounding area who witnessed this killing, or saw the suspect(s) running from the area, to please call the Major Crime Unit at 340-642-8449, 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Police Chief Querrard only now addresses the emotional distress of those of us who hear gun shots, see wounded and killed, watch drug use and sales occur…for several years now. This latest murder in Hospital Ground, or the guns found on the deceased, are not a sudden surprise or unexpected news to many islanders.
There are KNOWN areas where criminal activity has been going on for decades; is obviously escalating; and concerned citizens call in their reports, over and over and over. With these facts in hand, there is still no routine patrolling, no constant police presence, and often 911 calls are not responded to in a timely manner…if at all.
While Chief Querrard states this latest murder occurred in front of many witnesses, police are still requesting that those who saw the occurance, come forward. Why? With the many witnesses, is there not adequte information? Could it be similar to when I saw a shooting, the perpertrator, and offered a statement, but the officer in charge would not take my name or any information; told me it wasn’t necessary? In that case, the crime was not solved…unless it’s considered a solution that the shooter was later shot and killed, in reputed gang rivalry, right on the same block.
These areas, where young men gather to sell and openly use illegal drugs, are the SAME where many gun shots are heard; where many are wounded or killed. How much more information does our police force need? These are consistant problem areas, where continually increasing trouble occurs, and a visable, viable police presence is mandatory to halt this mounting crime, death count, and general ruination of our community’s youth.
If the police do not patrol these areas, identify these crimnals, halt the drug sales and stop the killings, the good citizens will be forced to move out. Then, murderers, drug sellers, prostitutes, gangs… will “win”. Is the real plan to not stopping these currently unsophisticated criminals, a pay-off potential, if unchecked? Today, it is a fledgling “disorganized crime ring”, by comparison to how it will become, if left to current standards.
I’ve heard that criminals “will just move somewhere else”; as if that is an excuse for not bothering their operations or disturbing their turf. I say bother and disturb as much as possible! They have no compunction about bothering and disturbing those of us who want a peaceful,law abiding life.
On 32 square miles – how hard can it be to patrol known trouble areas; to account for those who have no visible means of support, yet spend their time hanging on street corners, wearing expensive clothing, owning nice autos – even blowing marijuana smoke right into your face in broad daylight? Turn off the police car air conditioning, roll down the windows, drive around in the known trouble areas…stop, look, listen … and smell, Chief Querrard.
THIS is the information citizens want to tell you: Get SERIOUS about these criminals and protect the lawful community!
Police know where the trouble is; police know many who cause the trouble. USE these facts to stop crimes and murder. Make a presence!
The one thing he is correct on: The emotional distress IS horrid!
Susan Hunter
Bunker Hill
St. Thomas
There was an article in the New York Times a few weeks ago about the escalating crime rate in the Caribbean region. Readers contributed comments to the story and there were several comments by individuals that visited the USVI. One reader remarked that he felt safer walking the streets of New York than on St. Thomas. Another reader discussed a trip to a local spot where she felt completely unsafe. She will not be returning to the USVI.
I fear that crime in the USVI, and in the Caribbean region in general, will only be truly addressed once tourism is impacted. Once tourists decide to spend their money elsewhere (and I think they should) only then will Caribbean “leaders” start making their communities safe for law abiding and tax paying residents.
Police Chief Querrard said, “We as a community all have to stand against this apparent accepted practice among our young black males.” People, this senseless killing will only stop once black communities stop accepting fatherlessness as an accepted practice. If the USVI really wants to get serious about stopping crime in the community it had better start tackling the elephant in the room…fatherlessness!