Don Calloway, pictured in hospital shortly after being attacked in St John, USVI

Thirty-three year old Don Calloway told Caribbean Net News, "I am not a litigious person but I do demand justice. The people of the Virgin Islands, likewise, should demand justice for such a serious attack on the future revenues of the islands."

Calloway arrived on St John on August 5 to attend a wedding. It was his first visit to the island, and he now says it will be his last. During the early morning hours of August 10, at approximately 1:30 am, Calloway says he walked outside onto the steps of a local bar and attempted to hail a taxi.

After several minutes he went back inside the bar and asked the bartender if he could call a cab on his behalf. This was when  Calloway says he learned that taxi service on St John was basically not available at that hour. The bartender suggested to him that his best bet was to walk toward the Westin Resort (where the he was staying) and he might catch a taxi heading there. The island visitor started out on foot in that direction.

As he approached an intersection (in the Cruz Bay area) he says he heard footsteps behind him. This was when the attack commenced. Calloway said a youth began beating him with a shovel. Calloway attempted to bargain with the youth, whom he described as a black teenager, throwing an expensive wrist watch in his direction him, asking him to take it, and imploring the youth also to take his wallet.  The attacker ignored Calloway's pleas and the attack continued until he was able to escape. He said there were several other youths close by who observed the entire incident. Calloway then ran to the Cruz Bay police station.

Calloway was driven by ambulance to Myra Keating Smith Community Health Center for treatment. He sustained three lacerations on his head, which required sutures, and bruises on his knees and feet. The injured tourist asked medical providers at the Center where he was being treated to take a photo of his injuries with his personal camera.

A local newspaper, which first wrote about the attack, indicated that no police report was on record; however, Caribbean Net News reviewed the police report on file at the Cruz Bay police station.

There is also a discrepancy as to whether or not a suspect was brought to the police station for Calloway to identify. Police have indicated that there was, with Calloway denying it, or that he does not recall it.

As additional revisions of the event began to surface, both in news reports and the "coconut telegraph", Caribbean Net News also made numerous phone calls to the Virgin Islands Government Office of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, receiving no response, nor were calls accepted. Neither the spokesperson for the USVI Police Department responded to written requests for statements, nor did a spokesperson for the VI Hotel and Tourism Association.

Calloway was contacted at the publicized e-mail address he provided, in hopes of hearing from local residents who might have information for him relating to his attack. Calloway clarified the fact that he did file a police report, and has since followed up with proper officials since returning home to Chicago. He says he is not sure who called the ambulance for him, but feels the $1,000 bill was too much, stating, "I have comprehensive health insurance but I refuse to submit for such an egregious invoice."

When asked if he would confirm that he believed the attack was racially motivated, Calloway said, "I can't see any other motivation. My absolute, first contact with these kids was turning to find an imminent attack. As I discussed with more and more people they told me stories of the growing friction between 'native' islanders and the 'rich'  white man," adding,"I have sparked national media attention that is waiting to see the Virgin islands response."

A St John taxi driver in uniform, and who did not want his name disclosed, said that it was true that taxi service was most likely not available at that time, especially when it was not "high season." He said that arrangements would need to be made in advance for taxi service at such a late hour.

A well known person in St John's Caribbean community also commented that  "there is more to the story" than what was reported. He further indicated that he did not think it was a racially motivated attack, and questioned whether an attack was the cause of  the injuries, since the victim had been drinking and had started out alone, after dark, in an unfamiliar area.

As speculation continues on St John about Calloway's injuries, the USVI awaits release by the US Justice Department, of the outcome of an FBI investigation conducted regarding an alleged rape and brutalization of a Caribbean-African woman on St John, by multiple white men in August 2005. Delegate to Congress, Donna M. Christensen has launched a letter-writing campaign of her own, demanding that findings of the investigation be made public.

A white St John resident and business owner of many years was recently convicted via a USVI bench trial of a racially motivated crime against the same woman, and is serving a jail sentence in the territory. He has also been ordered to write columns in a newspaper concerning racism and discrimination. A local community group is distibuting free green bumper stickers, which say, "Think, Talk, Be Peace, St John."