From left, mugshots of Jahmar Lewis and Akeenda Weeks. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Two 17-year-olds face the possibility of life in prison without parole following a deadly daylight robbery that occurred in December 2021.
Akenda Weeks and Jahmar Lewis face a total of 28 charges each, including 1st-degree murder, attempted 1st-degree murder, kidnapping for the purposes of robbery, grand larceny and reckless endangerment. The offenses of 1st-degree murder and kidnapping for the purpose of robbery each carry possible life sentences.
Weeks and Lewis are among four individuals charged for the armed robbery which occurred at the Glitter's jewelry store in Havensight Mall on Saturday, December 04. The incident, which took place at around 11:00 a.m. left two individuals critically wounded. One of the victims, 56-year-old Gregorianna Julien eventually succumbed to her injuries weeks later.
The 9-page probable cause fact sheet reveals that police reviewed surveillance footage of a black Honda Odyssey entering the shopping center and coming to a stop near the jewelry store, angled towards the exit. Three masked men were then seen exiting the vehicle, two with guns in hand. The first suspect, later identified as Micaiah Cozier carried a handgun, while another suspect identified as Jahmar Lewis carried a long gun. A third, unnamed suspect was shown carrying a bag, while Akenda Weeks was later determined to be the driver who remained in the vehicle.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, the three males were seen quickly running into the jewelry store and pulling the now deceased Julien back inside against her will. Julien, who was reportedly shopping at the time was leaving the store when the men entered. The men were seen exiting the store and running back into the van seconds later. Court documents reveal that Lewis turned around to fire back into the store, discharging multiple rounds before the vehicle sped off. As part of investigations, police learned that the suspects took jewelry valued at over $18,000 during the robbery.
Police later located the getaway vehicle unoccupied and with the engine running in the driveway of an abandoned building in Frenchman’s Bay. Subsequent investigations revealed that the vehicle was a rental that had been reported stolen on November 24th, 2021. Police also learned that the vehicle was previously rented to Akenda Weeks in September. The VIPD was later informed that the suspects had switched getaway vehicles and this tip led them in the direction of one of the other suspects. Three of the four suspects were also identified via the surveillance footage.
Investigations into the shocking crime determined that the four individuals — one adult and three minors — had been planning the robbery for about a month. It was discovered that the unnamed suspect and Weeks stole the minivan in November to use in the commission of the deadly crime. Police also learned that Weeks had been to the store multiple times in the month leading up to the robbery and had placed jewelry on layaway. According to the fact sheet, the unnamed suspect later admitted to carrying the bag used to collect the stolen loot which the four later split among themselves, selling some on the street.
While the four were initially slapped with armed robbery charges on December 17th, 2021, the matter became a felony murder case after Julien succumbed on January 2nd, 2022. At a court hearing on Wednesday, Brenda Scales asked that bail for Lewis and Weeks remain as set in the amount of $1 million. The Assistant V.I. Attorney General argued that the defendants are flight risks as they face the rest of their lives in jail. However, attorney Andy Johnson who appeared on behalf of the minors insisted that the figure was "inherently excessive." Johnson asserted that if a proverbial hat was passed around to everyone listening in on the hearing, it would not come close to providing a million dollars. He went further to suggest that such a figure sends the message that a rich defendant can bond out while a poor one cannot.
Although Scales doubled down on her request for a million-dollar bail, Judge Paula Norkaitis eventually decreased the figure to $500,000 each, with no 10 percent provision. The judge affirmed that no third-party custodian would be suitable enough to mitigate the extreme danger the minors pose to the community. As such, if Weeks and Lewis secure release, they will each be placed on 24/7 house arrest with electronic monitoring. Both defendants are strictly prohibited from having any form of contact with co-defendants, witnesses and the surviving victim in the matter. They will next appear in court on March 18th.
