Two security guards were shot – one critically – and a money transfer stolen Tuesday, but the V.I. Police Department was able to apprehend the suspect within hours of the crime, police reported.
Richard Antonio Hodge, 23, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and first-degree reckless endangerment in the incident that began with gunfire at the Kmart in Lockhart Gardens.
According to police, two security guards from Ranger American were making a cash pickup from Kmart. When they left the building with the cash, police said, Hodge opened fire on them.
The police did not release the names of the two guards in line with a policy of not identifying nonfatal crime victims. One guard was shot in the upper body and was hospitalized at the Roy Schneider Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The other was shot in the legs and was listed as stable.
An off-duty V.I. Police officer happened to be on the scene when the incident took place. He saw the suspect escape into the Oswald Harris Court housing community. By that time 911 had been called and police officers and other law enforcement agents descended on the scene, surrounding the housing community.
VIPD Public Information Officer Melody Rames said police receive "great cooperation" from Oswald Harris Court residents, who helped police locate the area in which the suspect was hiding, a wooded area behind the housing community.
Police called in a K9 unit and with the dog’s help scoured the area, discovering the suspect lying in the brush.
The 911 call was dispatched to officers at 2:15 p.m. Hodge was being booked at the police station before 6 p.m.
St. Thomas/St. John Police Chief Darrin Foy praised the work of his officers, especially the off-duty officer, whose reaction he said was critical to the quick resolution of the case, and the other law enforcement officers who pitched in to find the suspect. Foy also expressed sympathy to the two injured security guards and support for their families.
In the US, all armored car companies require their truck teams to wear bullet-proof vests. Was the employee who was shot in the chest wearing one? With the vast amount of ongoing shootings occurring throughout the territory, and the increasing lack of financial opportunity for our people, it is no real surprise that some idiot would try and shoot his way to the big prize inside an armored car.
If they do not have vests, then Ranger American should make every effort to provide these essential protective measures to their armed guards. Also, do the armed guards go through any weapons handling and shooting certification courses? My heart goes out to these guys.
Where, by the way, is the community outrage?? It seems as usual, the sheeple of the USVI, just sit back and hope it doesn’t happen to them. The odds are NOT in our favor of being a shooting victim. YOU may be next. Think about that as you leave your home, or even as you are in your home.
Where, also, is the Sheeples Legislature on this rapidly increasing use of guns against others? As usual, not a peep, mutter or even anything. Completely gutless…and useless, like the Governor and his little group of cohorts. And any “talk” is just more blah, blah, blah. WE DEMAND ACTION!!!
The inaction of the Administration is frightfully deafening. The inaction of the Legislature is frightfully deafening. The weak actions of the courts are equally frightening.
The gun crime laws MUST be strengthened, with more severe penalties, that are actually implemented.
GOVERNOR!! Are you awake? Do you see what is happening around you? What the heck are you doing about it TODAY!! What’s your anti-crime, anti gun stance? For or against crime? All of us would like to know your involvement in fighting crime and not in …..(fill in your own appropriate words)
Maybe it’s time for the Feds to physically step in and manage the police department as they are doing quite successfully in Puerto Rico. It’s obvious this bunch of s/elected “officials” is incapable of reducing violent crime, or actually cares to.
People!! KEEP YOUR HEADS DOWN! REPORT ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS TO THE POLICE (and keep a record of your report!)
Wake up Governor!! WE’RE DYING OUT HERE!!
Its not the guns that cause the crime so I do not think people or “sheeple” should think that its the main reason there is a crime element.
Guns do not do a bit of evil. Its the person that chooses to do so and like the other reports listed here it does not take a gun to commit a crime. People are using knives and hammers. Are you wanting to legislate hammer control measures?
Realize that crime is everywhere and where guns are strictly regulated the crime is far worse. Compare New York (guns highly controlled and restricted) vs Houston (guns are controlled but not restricted).
Education and awareness go a long way towards stopping crime.
You stated “keep her heads down” that to me sounds very ignorant and very much a manner I would come to expect from “sheeple” as you put it. I preach the opposite. Keep your heads up. Look around. Be aware. Fear is what a criminal feeds on.