USVI-On-Line

Jan. 8, 2009 - Some St. John business owners said Monday's murder of Cap's Place owner Juan Ayala, who may have been targeted because he might have carried cash, made them worry about their own vulnerability.

Lex, thank you for the link. I feel really bad for the business owners in St. John. It sounds like they are pretty nervous. It is just so hard for me to understand the mind of a person who somehow justifies killing someone for money. I hope they solve it quickly. Someone who thinks so little of human life is dangerous.

Lex wrote:Here's a link to an article that provides some perspectives from other STJ business owners:

http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i ... 1223613844

bingo

If we don't want people to think it was a random act of violence, why don't we assume the motive was armed robbery, as mentioned in the article? That would solve both (random = scary, drugs = insult) problems.

DELETED

Perhaps STJ needs an armored car type service to pick up cash and check receipts STJ business owners may carry before they make deposits....

Curious if Ruth will weigh in on this whole matter, but I understand if she stays quiet.

I go to the bank frequently and deposit my cash receipts and the tellers tell me it smells "spicy." Some of them don't mind it, some do.
I weighed in.
When can we end this discussion? I just don't see the point of it.
-Ruth

Ruth-

I just can't let it go. You and your spicey money should have gotten a cabinet post in the new administration. HRC's got nothin' on you.

A sombering sight.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benchill/3183753628/" title="Cap's Solitary Black Wreath by benchill, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/318 ... c280_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Cap's Solitary Black Wreath"></a>

A Man Loses His Life....

I am just a tourist, visiting an island. A love affair ensued. I have no ownership, no right to interject, infer, or impress my opinion on anyone but I might still place it out there to be absorbed or rejected.

I respect everyone elses right to opinion. This is a wonderful forum that does a great job of self-moderation, as it is doing now.

Peace to all and Rest In Peace Cap.

wow benchill--
that is a somber sight
and it all sucks. truly. and the discussion does need to end. I can;t imagine if his family were reading this stuff.

Condolences to all affected...very sad.

Peace.

I think that picture puts this whole thing into perspective. Thanks for posting it Benchill.

Now I say we all just end this and reflect on what we know happened. A father, grandfather, husband, son, friend, was killed. Let's let him rest in peace and let the police find the person or persons responsible.

Peace.

I have to agree that it is time to put this to rest. It is unfortunate that something like this transpired on the island. Someone did lose their life and it affects family and friends and many that visit St. John. The truth to the matter is that this can happen and will happen anywhere. We can’t turn back the clock and make it disappear. It doesn’t matter if someone was involved in this and that or maybe not even involved in anything. Nobody in this world deserves to be murdered.

I wish to send my sincere condolences to the family and friends. I am very sorry to hear of this tragic event.

I am not a professional St. Johnian and I have only been there once. I fell in love with the island during my first visit last May and look forward to going again in May of 09. Loved it so much we are even talking about making the move when the time comes. I can say that my experience in the two weeks I was there in 08 showed me that there are a lot of good people on St. John. I met locals that basically let us fit right in. People just striking up long conversations while visiting different establishments. Buying rounds for us at The Beach Bar and Woody’s as they all nicknamed me Boston (refused to take my Red Sox hat off backwards and had it on everyday) and basically just being totally nice to two strangers that have entered their world. Giving us tips of what to do and maybe go see or maybe not see. You don’t see that on the mainland too much, do you? I didn’t think so.

We are tourist to the island. Who are we to judge St. John and its people and label it with crime when in our own back yards the worst of worst usually happens? It gets amplified because it is paradise. It is our get away from the everyday world of stress and gadgets and short tempered people. Things like this are not suppose to happen in paradise, but it does. It happens, but it doesn’t change the fact that St. John is paradise, or its people are one hell of a great bunch of people.

In my life I have never walked down a street or into town and said hello and smiled so many times like I did in St. John. You see, they are good people.

Sorry for the rant folks. Had to do it.

Gromit wrote regarding Lex,


"...but I also have been posting to this forum for at least a year longer than you have and I've seen the track that these crime postings take."

Let's not get carried away with our registration dates, and our numbers of postings, madame prosecutor.

Lex, like many others including myself, has been a member of this board since I found this board, which I believe was around 2001.

And he is so right on, I love it when he weighs in.

I can't speak for him, but I am unable to bring myself to describe every gas pain that I have while on Island, so my postings are low. But I do look at the Forum every day, right after Sons of Sam Horn.

hawksnestbay: was that really necessary? She has explained why she came to the conclusions that she did. She also apologized.


Gina