Published: 8/19/2012

St. Croix police chief shot by gunman at roadblock

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Authorities say a police chief in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been shot along with an officer while trying to stop armed robbery suspects on the island of St. Croix.

A Sunday statement on the police department's Facebook page says St. Croix Police Chief Christopher Howell and Officer Elsworth Jones have been treated for non-life threatening injuries after being wounded by gunfire.

Residents told investigators that up to 10 shots were fired at the two law enforcers at a roadblock they set up late Saturday to catch gunmen who held up a restaurant.

Politicians and police commanders have met with the two men at the hospital where they are recuperating.

St. Croix is the largest and poorest of the three-island U.S. Caribbean chain.

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