Mugshot of Akimo Smith. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Police have arrested a 38-year-old man for discharging a firearm at a housing community.
According to documents submitted to the court, Akimo Smith showed up at the residence at Oswald Harris Court around 9:13 pm on Saturday and began making violent threats. Police were supplied with footage of the incident which shows Smith walking up to the residence. According to the probable cause fact sheet, the sound of a round being chambered in a firearm could also be heard. Smith was heard threatening individuals inside the dwelling, stating “Come out on ayo porch! I will kill you inside ayo house!”
Prior to leaving the area, smith discharged one round from the firearm into the air and then drove off, according to the fact sheet. Police officers apprehended him without incident on Monday and it was determined that he did not have a firearm license.
Smith was subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm within 1000 feet of a housing community and first-degree reckless endangerment. He also faces charges for disturbance of the peace by threats and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. The probable cause fact sheet states that Smith was convicted of felonies in 2004 and 2009.
At his advisement hearing held on Wednesday, judge Paula Norkaitis expressed shock at the allegations and extreme concern for residents of the housing community. She later set bail set at $100,000, stressing that it was cash only.
According to the judge, no third-party custodian would be fit to control Smith’s actions for the protection of the community. As such, if bail is met he will be placed on 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring. Norkaitis explained that bail was set based on the nature of allegations, the weight of the evidence, the defendant’s previous criminal history and the belief that he poses both a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Advertisements
