Mugshot of Terell Johnson. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man already battling charges in the Superior Court now has to worry about federal prosecutors, who have also laid charges in a February 2024 incident at a Christiansted establishment.
According to court documents, just after midnight on February 10, 2024, the co-owners of Cruzian Bayou Bistro told police that two men walked into the bar. One of them was Terell Johnson, known to the business owners as “Inches.” One of the owners told police that it was “peculiar” to have Johnson walk into the business as he is a known nuisance to proprietors of King’s Alley establishments. When they saw Johnson reportedly rolling a marijuana cigarette, one of the owners asked him to stop, as smoking is not allowed inside the bistro.
Johnson allegedly became immediately upset, and in the verbal altercation that followed, took a gun from his bag and reportedly threatened to shoot the man that had asked him to put away his marijuana. Johnson then allegedly left the establishment but continued brandishing the weapon. At one point, witnesses say he discharged two shots into the air while continuing to threaten to shoot the restaurant owner. Another two gunshots were discharged – again into the air – before Johnson finally exited the area.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from several cameras in the vicinity, which supported the version of events described by the business owner. Further investigation revealed that Johnson does not have a license to possess a firearm in the Virgin Islands.
Johnson was arrested in May 2024 on a warrant issued in February 21 of that year. In December, he attempted to enter a plea agreement in which he would admit guilt for one of the five charges stemming from the gunfire incident in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining charges in that case and a 2023 domestic violence matter. However, prosecutors have objected to the plea deal, saying that it had already been verbally withdrawn in court prior to Johnson’s December 10 filing.
Now, Johnson – who at the time of the gunfire incident had two previous felony convictions – will have to defend against both territorial and federal charges in the latest matter. In District Court, he is facing charges of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, unauthorized possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm, third-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.
On Monday, government prosecutors argued that given his criminal history and all the other particulars of the case, Johnson should be detained while awaiting trial and not offered bail or bond in the matter. U.S. Magistrate Emile Henderson III will now have to make that determination in an upcoming hearing.
