Mugshot of Jahreem Lake. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — In what the V.I. Police Department has deemed an arrest resulting from community involvement, V.I.P.D. detectives have made swift progress in the homicide of 31-year-old Deshawn Huggins, who was shot to death on Sept. 30 in the Paradise Mills Housing Community.
Information received from the community led Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives to the suspect who police took into custody on Friday at 3:15 p.m. Jahreem Lake, age 28 was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, with bail set at $1 million. Unable to post that amount, he was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advisement hearing scheduled for Monday.
The homicide occurred on September 30 in the vicinity of Building 1 of the housing community. The 911 Emergency Call Center received reports of shots fired at about 9:59 p.m., and moments later additional calls came with reports of a gunshot victim.
Officers from the Wilbur H. Francis Command were dispatched to Paradise Mills and contacted several residents who directed them to a gunshot victim lying in the grass near Building 1. They observed a black male wearing dark clothing and a dark stocking cap on his head lying face down in the grass. The victim was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He was later identified by his next of kin as 31-year-old Deshawn Huggins.
Chief Detective, Lt. Naomi Joseph expressed gratitude to the community. “As we continue to work together, we will take our community back from that small percentage of individuals who are causing the violence in our territory," she said. "If you have any information that can make that difference, call the CIB Tip-Line at 340 778 4850, 340 712 6092, Crime Stoppers at 1800 222 TIPS or 911."
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