Peter des Jardins - St. Croix - February 2009
Lost to us August 4, 2009Peter Des Jardins Gunned Down in St. Croix Restaurant
By Source Staff
August 5, 2009 — Well-known St. Croix musician, entertainment writer and boat captain Peter Des Jardins was shot and killed Tuesday night.
At about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, two masked men appeared at the door of a restaurant in Estate St. Peter’s, witnesses told the police. One of them fired two shots, striking Desjardin, and then both fled the scene in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle.
When police responded to the 911 call, witnesses told them Des Jardins was injured. Emergency Medical Technicians examined him and could not find any vital signs, according to the initial police report.
The first suspect was described as short, medium built, with a medium to dark complexion, wearing dark clothing with a white mask or T-shirt covering his head. The second suspect was described as a tall, slim built, with a light complexion, wearing dark clothing, and a white mask or T-shirt covering his head.
Anyone who has information that might be related to this crime can call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-712-6077 or 340-712-6037 or the independent private tip hotline Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
my heart weeps for your loss....and i'm putting my arms around you via this crazy cyberspace thing....
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, MJ. . .
ReplyDeleteme too, thank you
ReplyDeleteIn reading the article, it just dawned on me that it could sound as if Peter was an intended target. Far from that, the men burst into the restaurant to rob it, shooting the guns for attention and hitting Peter, immediately fled. While I don't know details, I just wanted to clarify what might, in light of our scary world, be misinterpreted
ReplyDeletePeter was a friend of mine, and the fiance of one of my two best girlfriends, Tonya Swinnea. I cannot imagine anyone targeting Peter for anything except to thank him. He would literally give you the last dollar he had if you needed it.
ReplyDeleteChris
I believe it was totally random...lots of rumours of course, but I think it wasn't *supposed* to happen (guess so much for that theory that guns don't kill people).
ReplyDeleteYes, he was exactly like that...
MJ,
ReplyDeleteVery sorry for this tragedy.
soo totally wrong.....if i could wrap my arms around you and hold you i would ...hugs and tears for you luv..im so sorry..
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry MJ.
ReplyDeletewhat a terible way to lose a friend.
Barbara
Thanks to all who here and elsewhere have been so kind in your compassion. I know so many others feeling as I am who knew and loved Peter. I only know that to honor him is to try in helping stop the madness...and to laugh a lot and listen to good music...and to pass along that palm fronds make a good roof for your car if the top gets rusty...
ReplyDeleteI grew up in NJ with Peter - and went Kindergarten through high school with him. We were neighbors and our families were best friends. For those of you who only knew him as an adult, you need to know he was wonderful when he was young too. Always kind and funny.We rode bikes constantly. I remember when he first got into music, he was teaching himself guitar and he played for me in the summer house on his family's farm in NH. I enjoyed seeing Peter again at two high school reunions in the past years - so glad I got to enjoy his company. What a loss of a wonderful person from a wonderful family. Val Merrick Schmid
ReplyDeleteVal, thank you SO much for this comment! It lifted my spirits that have been low. I'm not surprised but I am delighted! I can picture a young Peter riding bikes...and it makes me smile a lot. Again, thank you. You might want to put this on my or Ingo's facebook page for others who need the joy this brought to me that I know it would bring others who are hurting now.
ReplyDeleteadding...my email is caribemj@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have visited St Croix for many years and saw Peter at HOTC and would hear him play......I just have no words...
ReplyDeleteI know...may we all try hard to give out what Peter gave so easily
ReplyDeleteMy children and I met Peter for the first time last March at HOTC. He was mc for the crab races, showed us where to snorkel and we listened to him play at Angry Nate's the last night of our stay. After playing late into the evening he was up at 4:00 am to ferry us over to our car so we could get to our early flight. Peter was a wonderful kind man, we are sooooo sorry for your loss!!!
ReplyDeleteHe touched so many lives in such a positive way...may we all try to carry and shed even half that much light in our journey through life. Thank you for sharing your time with Peter, it made me smile.
ReplyDeleteI was so sorry to hear the sad news about Peter. A couple of years ago I had to make an emergency trip to St Croix to check on a sick brother in the hospital. Looking for a much needed night out, I (fortunately) ended up sitting in front of the St. Croix Blues Society's Band Stand listenung to some great music. As a harp player back in the states, I started up a conversation with Peter on one of his breaks...he invited me to join the band for a few songs and to join him at the bar for a few beers after. His love of music and his kindness & generosity towards others was evident from the beginning and is still remembered to this day. That evening became the highlight of my brief stay as well as my therapy for dealing with many depressing hospital visits...thank you Peter...and I hope you're still standing on a bandstand somewhere...making strangers feel welcome.
ReplyDeleteChuck from Maine
A wonderful (and so typically Peter) story; thank you so very much for sharing it. Even gone from this plane, Peter brings people together...which I think would make him smile a lot.
ReplyDeleteJust found out about this tragedy. I was a neighbor of Peter and his family growing up. I was "Little" Pete, and he was "Big" Pete, as I was several years his junior. I spent a lot of time at their house in NJ, and a couple of memorable times in NH. Always a beautiful family, and very hospitable. I feel for your loss, and hold onto good memories. I feel he's in a better place now.
ReplyDelete--Best "Little" Pete
Funny, I've been thinking a lot about Peter the last few days, even to the point of looking at the slideshow I had made and now your comment. What good memories you have! I didn't know Peter nearly as long as many but as those who knew and loved him are aware, his intensity of warmth covered a lot of distance!
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing, Little Pete. He's got a lot of people who still miss him daily and now we know one more.
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Peter at HOTC one summer 6 years ago. I was down for an internship. I worked very closely with Peter at the resort as he worked hard to entertain the guests. He was a kind and giving man that would do anything for anyone. Here I was today trying to reconnect with my old friend only to read this tragic news. RIP Peter. -Matthew
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you had to find out about Peter this way, but there is a lot of love here. Ironically, last night I listened to Michael Justis play up here in Maine (where I'm working for the summer) - the last time I heard him play was on STX with Peter...a good time but sort of a tough one as well. Carry on Peter's good heart in your world...that's all I know to do.
ReplyDeleteI just googled one of my old bands--Shawmut Minstrels--and read of this tragedy. I played bass in the Shawmuts in 1977-78 and the subsequent Cosmic Jimmy band--which he formed after he returned from his very first trip to St. Croix in 1978. Best songwriter I've ever known and I've known a few--including myself. A true believer in the power of love and good vibes, Pete was a real buddy and sweet human. We regularly kicked ass playing "Seagull Reel" as a duo interlude, which Peter would inevitably wrap up playing some slide with his beer bottle, dramatically chug the bottle, and almost break my had with a high five. Love you forever--Mickey
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing some good memories with me/us, Mickey...there was a lot of Peter to go around to so many lives. Hope you are still making music and sharing the love.
ReplyDeleteMJ
An old friend, and Co-thespian, We were in the play Camelot together at the Island center for the Preforming Arts. King Arthur. My first play and being on stage ever. Peter was always warm and friendly. I was just thinking about my friends in St. Croix and how they all are. I hope. I was wondering if they ever caught the men who did this to poor Peter.
ReplyDeleteHe was loved and will always be remembered. Your friend, Wayne Pierson
Thanks, Wayne. Another memory, another facet of a dear person sorely missed. I've never heard that they caught Peter's murderers. If they ever did, I hope to hear about it. It won't bring him back but stories like yours keep him glowing.
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