Two St. Croix men were injured by gunfire after an altercation between the victims and a group of men escalated around 4 a.m. Saturday. St. Croix Police Chief Thomas Hannah said Emmette Pemberton and Jason Archibald, both 22 years of age, were wounded during a verbal confrontation which turned violent on the corner of Queen Cross and Strand Streets.

Hannah said police investigators have been told by the victims that the argument between them and their attackers intensified following a confrontation outside Moonraker’s bar where the first exchange between the victims and the perpetrators took place. “They apparently had words as the victims were leaving the bar and when they again saw each other on the public street, the violence erupted,” Hannah said Saturday. Hannah said the victims have not provided police with either a description or the identity of the attackers.

Both victims told police they are brothers. Pemberton suffered gunshot injury to the left shoulder, left leg and an abrasion to the knee, while Archibald suffered gunshot injury to the left side of the abdomen. Both men, who listed addresses in Castle Burke, were admitted to the Juan F. Luis Hospital for treatment. On Saturday afternoon, the two men were listed in stable condition and their injuries were not considered life-threatening.