Mugshot of Clemence King. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A man who reportedly pointed a gun at someone during an argument is now charged with assault and grand larceny.
According to court records, police were summoned to investigate a disturbance in the Pueblo La Reine parking lot on Friday morning. They met two men. One accused the other – Clemence King – of pointing a gun at him a few minutes earlier.
The men were at Moe's Service Station when King pulled the gun, his accuser told officers. The service attendant who saw the incident told them to leave and go to the police station. The man says he was on his way to the Ann Schrader police station in La Reine, with King following him up to the intersection near an auto parts store.
He said King turned east at that point, but when the man parked in the La Reine parking lot, King's vehicle pulled up at an angle beside him. The man said he then tried to reverse his truck, not realizing that King had also reversed behind him. The ensuing collision reportedly prompted King to get out of his car and again brandish his gun, pointing it at the man and threatening to harm him.
The man said that he ran to Pueblo, leaving his phone and keys behind in the truck, and tried to get assistance. The workers inside reportedly told him that they could not call 911 since the incident did not happen on the premises. Someone else evidently called, and a bystander was able to provide him with some protection from King until the police arrived. The man told officers that the two of them have had altercations in the past.
When officers spoke to King, he told them that the man had approached him at the service station and when they met again in the Pueblo parking lot, the man reversed into him, impacting the front end of his vehicle twice and causing heavy damages.
The service station cashier confirmed to police that he asked the two men to leave after King drew a silver firearm and pointed it at the other man when they were near the gas pumps.
Police confiscated King's licensed Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, and found it loaded with four bullets. None were chambered, however. He initially denied having the other man's cellphone and vehicle key, which the man said could not be found when he got back to his truck. However, King reportedly subsequently turned over the man's belongings.
He was then arrested and charged with third-degree assault, branding, exhibiting or using a deadly weapon, grand larceny, and disturbance of the peace. Initial bail was set at $25,000. King's initial court appearance was scheduled for May 12, however no record of the proceeding has been made available to the public as of press time.

