U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announced that the Honorable Judge Ernest E. Morris, Jr. sentenced 34-year-old Kertis Tonge, Jr. to a life sentence without parole on November 19, 2025, for the murder of Quanza Heath. This sentence comes after a jury convicted Tonge of Murder in the First Degree, Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, Reckless Endangerment, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, and Unauthorized Possession of Ammunition on September 10, 2025.
On October 23, 2024, Kertis Tonge, Jr. went uninvited to a Lorraine Village Apartment shortly before noon. After getting into a dispute with the occupants, he intentionally shot and killed Heath, who was inside of the apartment. In total he fired three shots into the apartment occupied by Heath, an adult female, and multiple children. After a citizen called 911, responding officers found Quanza with multiple gunshot wounds and quickly transported him to Juan F. Luis Hospital for emergency treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Attorney General Rhea expressed gratitude to everyone involved for their hard work, including the prosecutors, investigators, the Victim Witness Advocate, and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2025
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov