After a year in which the number of homicides in the U.S. Virgin Islands dropped by more than a third, it didn’t take long for the territory to register its first murder of 2014 – just a matter of hours.

A fatal shooting occurred sometime before 3 a.m. Wednesday – New Year’s Day – in the government parking lot in Frederiksted adjacent to the site of the Crucian Christmas Carnival Village.

Francisco Rivera, 27, was shot and killed while standing near his vehicle, police said. Officers in the area said that about 3:19 a.m. they found the victim lying on the pavement, unresponsive.

According to the report, Rivera was taken to the Juan F. Luis Memorial Hospital by medical personnel and pronounced dead.

Police said the carnival village had closed about 20 minutes earlier.

Police are urging anyone who knows anything about the murder to contact detectives at 1-340-712-6037 or 1-340-712-6077. Those with information can also call the 911 emergency center or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.

In 2013, the total number of homicides in the territory was 34, compared to 58 the year before, a decline of 36.9 percent.