Masked intruder brandishing gun

ST. THOMAS - An armed, masked man who broke into a two-story Estate Frydendal home's rear window Thursday morning died after the homeowner shot the intruder in the living room, according to reports to The Daily News.

Five people were in the home, which is up the hill from Smith Bay, when a man broke in brandishing a handgun and went room-to-room, demanding the residents' money and rummaging through their belongings shortly after 8 a.m., according to reports to The Daily News.

A dog was heard barking after about three shots rang out, according to reports to The Daily News.

In 10 days, from Dec. 5 to Thursday, police responded to 75 confirmed burglaries on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, according to the police blotter.

Of the burglaries tallied during that time, St. Thomas had 45, St. Croix had 25 and St. John had five.

"If you see someone in your home wearing masks and gloves with a gun, I think that's as extreme as it gets," said St. Thomas Deputy Police Chief Dwayne DeGraff, referring to Thursday's intrusion. "It was somebody who wasn't invited.

"The persons who live in the house were defending the property and their lives," he added.

The shooting, which remains under investigation, marked the territory's 47th homicide this year, including four vehicular deaths.

Police are not releasing the intruder's name, and it was unclear whether police had identified the intruder Thursday night.

When DeGraff visited the crime scene Thursday, the intruder's body lay on the floor, still masked and wearing gloves, within reach of a handgun on the floor, he said.

The man's body lay on its right side when the paramedics and police arrived, according to reports to The Daily News.

Police confiscated the homeowner's and intruder's handguns, but DeGraff did not know yet whether the guns were licensed.

Several sections of the V.I. Code allow citizens to defend themselves and their property in extreme circumstances.

Residents can "make resistance sufficient to prevent" an illegal, forceful attempt to take or injure the victim and the victim's family or property, according to the V.I. Code.

To justify a homicide, an act must include an imminent or immediate danger that causes the victim to fear serious injury or for his or her life, according to the V.I. Code's law governing self-defense.

A person also can use justifiable force while resisting an attempt to kill or seriously injure the victim.

When determining the legality of a case involving justifiable force, an investigator must consider the type of weapon involved and, specifically, whether the assailant brandished a firearm.

According to another section of the V.I. Code, a crime in a person's home requires the investigator to consider whether the victim knew or had reason to believe that:

- An unlawful and forcible entry had occurred or was about to occur.

- The perpetrator had a dangerous weapon on his person or within reach.

DeGraff said that even with those limited rights, police recommend homeowners and residents to seek alternative solutions against home intrusions.

"We don't want people arming themselves," he said.

He said resorting to such violence - even in cases with few safe options - can levy unexpected and lasting trauma for the victim.

"The person arming themselves becomes the victim," DeGraff said.

He said burglaries that end with an intruder's death are rare.

"If you have to take somebody's life to defend your own, it leaves a severe scar," he said.

Police continue to investigate, and anyone with information can call detectives at 715-5534, 715-5545 or the Crime Stoppers USVI anonymous tip line at 1-800-222-8477.

- Contact reporter Michael Todd at 714-9104 or email mtodd@dailynews.vi.

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