Mugshot of Dion Johnson. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — A 21-year-old man, Dion Johnson, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Alrick M. Thomas, 54. The incident took place on Norre Gade near the Frederick Lutheran Church on Saturday, April 29, casting a somber shadow over the vibrant 2023 Carnival Festivities in St. Thomas.
Johnson was arrested by the V.I. Police Department officers, who were on patrol at the time of the shooting and quickly apprehended the suspect. The court set bail at $1 million, which Johnson was unable to post. He was subsequently remanded to the Bureau of Corrections in St. Thomas pending his advice of rights hearing, scheduled for Monday, May 1.
The VIPD revealed that it has received multiple 911 calls from concerned citizens reporting gunshots in the area around 8:37 p.m. Responding officers arrived at the scene to find a black male, later identified as Alrick M. Thomas, unresponsive and suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Technicians were dispatched to assess the victim's condition, and at 8:52 p.m., they concluded that Thomas showed no signs of life.
The Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Unit is currently investigating the incident. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Citizens can contact the VIPD at (340) 774-2211 or the Criminal Investigation Unit's Major Crimes Division at 340-642-8449. For those wishing to remain anonymous, information can be provided through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Despite the tragic shooting, the 2023 Carnival Festivities in St. Thomas had been a historic season, featuring legendary artists such as Shenseea and Machel Montano performing during the Carnival Village.
