2016 mugshot of Ricardo Rhymer. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS – Ricardo Rhymer, who was arrested for shooting a pregnant woman in the arm during a violent Easter Weekend in the territory, must grapple with additional charges after police found two guns in his residence when they came to arrest him.
Police noted that the woman, who was standing outside her home on Krondprindsen Gade with her neighbor when she was shot, had been involved in a relationship with Rhymer, who has a history of intimate partner violence. Just about eight years ago, he was arrested for stabbing his ex-girlfriend in the stomach. Although Rhymer had previously faced trial following arrests on felony charges in 2015 and 2016, both times the cases were dismissed upon the request of prosecutors.
It is not immediately clear whether the woman who was stabbed in April 2016 is the same individual who was shot last Friday night, however police investigations further revealed that Rhymer and the woman who he shot had previously “physically assaulted each other with knives but had since reconciled prior to this incident,” according to documents submitted in court.
Following Rhymer’s arrest, he was charged with first- and third-degree assault as acts of domestic violence, two counts of using an unlicensed firearm during the commission of an assault, reckless endangerment, and the unauthorized discharge of a firearm.
Rhymer appeared before Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull on Monday, who upheld the charges against him. While details of the court proceeding have not yet been made available to the public, court records indicate that the judge has ordered his release ahead of trial. However conditions of bail are unknown at this time.
His next court appearance has been scheduled for April 19.
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