ST. CROIX — Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett this afternoon issued a statement aimed at addressing the deadly weekend on St. Croix, which left three young men dead and multiple others injured by gunfire.
Ms. Plaskett, who is seeking reelection this November, said she was saddened by the incidents and called for a unified approach in confronting the problem.
“I am saddened to learn that gun violence has again ended the promise of a young man in the Virgin Islands. My deepest sympathies go to the families and friends of the three young men who have lost their lives this weekend. This has become too pervasive a problem in our community. We all have to step up to fight against the scourge of gun violence in the Virgin Islands,” Ms. Plaskett said.
On Saturday night just before 10:00 p.m., a young man named Timothy Urgent saw his life come to an end after assailants, who pulled up near a house in Clifton Hill where a multiple was gathered, opened fire, killing Mr. Urgent and injuring a 16-year-old boy. The following night, two 18-year-olds were shot dead during a birthday party at the Altona Lagoon.
Investigations into both matters are ongoing, according to Police Commissioner Delroy Richards, and police arrested a suspect who happened to crash into a police cruiser after hustling out of the Lagoon.
The man, who was accompanied by a 16-year-old minor, exited the vehicle after the crash on King Street near the old Scotia Bank building, and pointed a gun at the police sergeant driving the cruiser. But before he could fire, the magazine fell off, Mr. Richards made known, so the suspect fled the area and left the minor sitting in the vehicle.
The 16-year-old was detained immediately. However, the suspect who fled the scene was apprehended later in the day by detectives, according to the commissioner.
“We currently have the suspect in custody and he’s now being questioned,” Mr. Richards said. Just on the grounds of wielding a firearm — whether legally or illegally — and pointing the weapon at a police officer is already an offense; giving the V.I.P.D. more than enough grounds to not only detain the suspect, but keep him in custody.
Mr. Richards did not release the suspect’s name as questioning was still ongoing, and it was not clear whether police had recovered the magazine. The commissioner said police would update the community on the investigation.
Ms. Plaskett aapears to be the first official to condemn the weekend’s violent acts publicly.
Tags: delegate to congress, stacey plaskett, us virgin islands, violence
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
