Three men were arrested Wednesday and charged with murdering Larry Davis last May in his Back Street jewelry store, the Emerald Lady, and shooting security guard Gwendolyn Rawlins.
The three — two adults and a minor at the time — have been charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and violation of the Hobbs Act, which regulates interstate commerce.
The two adults are Jason Hull, 23, and Irvine Hodge Jr., 21. The third defendant was a minor at the time the crimes were committed and was not identified in the release from U.S. Attorney James Hurd’s office.
The complaints charge that four armed, masked individuals entered the jewelry store, ordered the people inside to lie on the floor and made one employee open the jewelry cases, Hurd's release says. One defendant ordered that the safe be opened and Davis complied.
While the robbery was under way, Rawlins approached the store and was shot at several times and struck with a bullet.
As the defendants fled the scene, one stopped and shot Davis at point-blank range, killing him.
The maximum statutory penalty for first-degree murder is death or life in prison, Hurd's release said. The Hobbs Act violation carries a penalty of not more than 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. The penalty for the firearm charge is a mandatory minimum of five years' imprisonment.
When Davis was killed last May, news stories said three men entered the store, but Hugh P. Mabe, assistant U.S. attorney, said witnesses subsequently indicated four people were involved.
Hurd's release credited the arrests to the combined efforts of the V.I. Police Department's major crime unit and the V.I. Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the
FBI, U.S. Marshal Service and officers of the V.I. Police Department.