V.I. Police arrested three men early Monday morning and charged them in connection with a shots-fired incident at the Crucian Christmas Festival Village in Frederiksted, the police reported Tuesday.
One of the suspects had a gunshot wound to his leg and was given medical treatment, according to police, who were already on the scene when they received the call from the 911 emergency dispatcher. Witnessed told the officers the suspects fled in a red vehicle and an all-points bulletin was issued.
A detective spotted a vehicle fitting the description headed east on the Melvin Evans Highway, alerted 911 and gave chase. Officers converged on the vehicle near Estate Profit in an attempt to block its progress.
Officers said they observed several items being tossed from the vehicle before it evaded capture. The vehicle was eventually detained near Estate Hope on the highway and the three people in it were arrested at about 5:30 a.m.
Police recovered two semi-automatic weapons in the area where items were thrown from the car.
The three men arrested were Julian Vera Jr., 20, of Estate Strawberry; Adrian “Sampa” Gerard, 23, of JFK housing community; and Adowa Fleming, 20, of Estate Catherine’s Rest.
Vera had a gunshot wound to his leg, was treated at the Juan F. Luis Memorial Hospital and released.
A female bystander was also shot in her leg, treated and released. Gunfire damaged several vehicles parked in the area.
The suspects were charged with third-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Each was placed on $25,000 bail and remanded to custody.
Police said the three suspects exchanged gunfire with several other people, who the department is actively seeking. Detectives said they have information that the shooting was in retaliation for a previous altercation between the two groups.
Acting Police Chief James Parris condemned the shooting, which could have had more serious consequences considering the number of people in the area.
“The VIPD will not tolerate violent acts in the Festival Village, the J’Ouvert or anywhere else,” he said.
Festival Organization President Davidson Charlemange praised the police for the swift capture of the suspects and decried the violence that erupted at the event.
“The 60th anniversary celebration is a chance to show our island to the world and cannot be jeopardized by a few criminals," Charlemange said. "The celebrations have been going on for almost a month with thousands of people attending each event. This is the first violent incident and I want it to be the last. This is a time for celebration, not retaliation."
What?! When will we take these kinds of serious crimes seriously? $25,000 bail for shooting up the festival and injuring bystanders. An event full of children! How many Virgin Islanders and their families can easily raise $25,000 or the 10% to post bail for these rats? The punishment has to start getting serious – the rats have already crossed the line and started shooting and murdering our police. If crime is going up and up, something has to weigh it down; the more counter weight, the further down it will go. Start with really high bail. If I had my way, these guys would have a ball and chain attached to their ankles to drag around our island’s beaches picking up trash.
The “system” would not allow the criminal to be dishonored by a ball and chain. We must remember that anything we do to a criminal might scar his psychie for life. We must give them the right to go home so Mommy can take care of them (remember that one??) and we must make sure they can play basketball and talk on the cell phone. AND all this is after the relative that is a police officer makes sure his family member gets the least charge possible.
Gotta change the system. Won’t be long until the VI is another Haiti. It already has the racist leadership, corrupt government, lawlessness, murder rate, lack of tourism, lack of jobs and more things than I can list.
The “system” would not allow the criminal to be dishonored by a ball and chain. We must remember that anything we do to a criminal might scar his psychie for life. We must give them the right to go home so Mommy can take care of them (remember that one??) and we must make sure they can play basketball and talk on the cell phone. AND all this is after the relative that is a police officer makes sure his family member gets the least charge possible.
Gotta change the system. Won’t be long until the VI is another Haiti. It already has the racist leadership, corrupt government, lawlessness, murder rate, lack of tourism, lack of jobs and more things than I can list.
I agree with most of what you say but if we are to be fair and impartial in comparing apples to apples – Haiti’s judicial system and police have little to no: funding, federal system to back them up, equipment, personnel, etc., etc. The Virgin Islands has all of these advantages and is still making excuses. I second the motion on your comment about police officers sliding their families through the system.
Blue_Mt_Ghost and Chilliwest, I agree with you both and until the citizens of the USVI really and truly demand upright and unbiased leadership along with a government that functions on the premise of sense and sensibility, you will continue to watch more of this outrageous activity…
Bring back the ball and chain for these criminals once charged and arrested…
Bring back the labour camps in the prison system and make these scumbags raise food for the various government programmes that provide meals to the schools, nursing homes, hospitals and what not across the territory…
Bloody bring back hard time and labour to local prison system, stop following the psycho-babbling, politically correct idiots when it comes to dealing with these inhumane fiends, and it’s high time these “wannabe” judges raise the bail rate… It’s human life sacred or respected anymore?!?
Chilliwest, what you’ve said here is also truth…
DarkShinobi,
Right on Sir! You got it! I want every criminal who comes out of our legal system to feel like they have just been heavy load washed, high cycle dryed, and hot iron pressed. These judges have to send a message on behalf of the common citizen – don’t do it if you don’t want to be the next dirty rag in the laundry!
You’re correct Chilliwest… I think it’s high time a judicial system is set up within the USVI where REAL rehabilitation and reform is the norm…
Where the leaders within that system are not afraid to punish any and everyone guilty of wrong-doing whether it be family, friend, foreigner or foe…
You’re correct Chilliwest… I think it’s high time a judicial system is set up within the USVI where REAL rehabilitation and reform is the norm…
Where the leaders within that system are not afraid to punish any and everyone guilty of wrong-doing whether it be family, friend, foreigner or foe…
So, what can be done?? If the FEDS were allowed to come in and do their job and not embarrass the locals, would that help?? Feds would have to furnish leadership.
Suggestions??
By the way, what happened to the guy that was wounded and let to stay with his mommy instead of going to jail.
I agree that the $25,000 bail is too low and easy for most to come up with especially criminals. However, Blue_Mt_Ghost your comments are disingenuous. When you talk about racist leadership and corrupt government, remember that the Virgin Islands government is a mirror of the United States Government. There are many small and medium towns on the mainland where criminals get a slap on the wrist because of their fame or their familiar ties to police officers or high ranking government officials. Small towns include Washington DC and Congress. Wait, this happens most places in the world. We’re all human. How do we close the loopholes and help fix the problem? In the short term, press legislators to raise the minimum bail for gun crimes. Require minimum sentencing terms and rehabilitation for those who illegally posses guns and ensure that illegal possession cannot be waived by any plea deals. Press the federal government to xray or search all those containers coming into the islands via the container ports and all the packages imported via the USPS. We don’t manufacture guns in the Virgin Islands so they are coming from somewhere. Above all we need to make sure that these kids are being educated so that they can contribute to society whether here or abroad. Get guidance counselors, teachers, and parents together when it is apparent that these kids are not excelling in traditional school. Many of them need a little more nurturing and chances are they are not getting it at home.