ST. THOMAS — What began as a traffic stop over an allegedly illegally tinted windshield escalated into a vehicle pursuit, a foot chase and gunfire directed at police officers, according to authorities, leaving Akimo Smith facing four counts of attempted murder and a lengthy list of additional firearm and traffic charges.
The incident began Friday night during a cross-departmental traffic enforcement operation, when officers encountered an Acura TSX whose windshield tint they determined violated territorial regulations. Police approached the vehicle and spoke with Mr. Smith, who initially opened the door and told officers that the windows did not work. Instead of pulling over as directed, however, police say he accelerated away, traveling down Nye Gade before turning onto Domini Gade.
The Acura eventually traveled onto Norre Gade from Garden Street. Officers in the area later received a radio transmission indicating that Mr. Smith had abandoned the vehicle near Bluebeard’s Castle Hotel and was fleeing on foot while carrying a firearm. As police converged on his location, officers reported hearing several shots.
According to police, Mr. Smith was running when he turned and fired at two pursuing officers, forcing them to dive into nearby bushes for cover. He then allegedly fired three additional shots toward another group of officers, who were also forced to retreat temporarily. Police say none of the officers returned fire.
Officers who accessed a third-story parking area to obtain a better vantage point eventually spotted Mr. Smith and helped contain his movements. With police surrounding the area, he ultimately surrendered.
While officers were escorting Mr. Smith toward a police vehicle, they say a firearm fell from his waist. The weapon was later identified as a Glock 21 .45-caliber pistol equipped with what police described as a device capable of facilitating automatic fire. Authorities say Mr. Smith continued making threatening statements even while being handcuffed and transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries.
Investigators subsequently determined that Mr. Smith did not possess a license to carry a firearm in the Virgin Islands. Police also discovered irregularities involving the Acura itself: the license plate displayed on the vehicle was registered to another automobile, as was the windshield registration sticker, while the Acura’s vehicle identification number traced back to an individual residing on St. Croix.
Mr. Smith was charged with four counts each of attempted murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault and illegal discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. He also faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful possession of a firearm capable of conversion and a conversion kit, unlawful possession of ammunition, and first-degree reckless endangerment.
The case also generated numerous traffic charges, including displaying illegal license plates, operating an unregistered vehicle on a public roadway, operating a vehicle without a USVI driver’s license, illegal transfer of a registration sticker, failure to stop at a red light, excessive tint, failure to stop when ordered by police and interfering with an officer in the discharge of official duties.
Unable to meet the initial $1 million bail requirement, Mr. Smith was remanded into custody pending his first court appearance, which had been scheduled for Monday before Magistrate Julie Smith Todman.
As of press time, however, the public court docket did not indicate whether Mr. Smith’s advice-of-rights hearing had taken place.
