Aerial shot of scene of Saturday morning shooting in the Four Winds Plaza area. By. VI CONSORTIUM
The Virgin Islands Police Department will hold a press briefing on Monday, following a violent Saturday in St. Thomas that left six people shot — five in one incident — with one victim, identified by next of kin as 29-year-old Joseph Andrews, succumbing to gunshot wounds sustained during the first incident.
Police arrested an individual allegedly involved in the second shooting, which is believed to have occurred just around 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Smith Bay area. Police said one individual sustained non-life threatening wounds.
According to the V.I.P.D.'s Twitter account, Omarie Smith of 57L Smith Bay was located in the Smith Bay area and arrested for first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Omarie was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advisement hearing after failing to make bail of $75,000.
The V.I.P.D.'s last press briefing was held less than a month ago on Sept. 28. There, Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor and other law enforcement officials spoke on steps the department has taken in combating violent crime.
It remains to be seen what the commissioner will announce during the press briefing. V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima didn't provide details, but law enforcement are again expected to speak on initiatives, and new efforts may be announced. A constant theme of such events is the plea to community members to help bring criminals to justice.
The first Saturday incident, which left one victim dead, occurred near Four Winds Plaza early Saturday and rattled St. Thomas. Some residents spoke of hearing sustained, loud gunshots. When police responded to the scene, four people had already been injured by gunfire, with one victim lying lifeless on the floor.
In the Smith Bay area, police had cordoned off the road and detoured traffic as they investigated the shooting.
The St. Thomas homicide on Saturday brought the territory's total for 2020 to 43.
