Mugshot of Shamal Gabriel. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — The V.I. Police Department on Tuesday announced the arrest of the person it believes murdered 59-year-old Delroy A. Venzen at Coki Point Beach, the department's second arrest of a murder suspect in two weeks for crimes that occurred this month.
According to the police department, during an investigation of the homicide, detectives obtained information that Shamal Gabriel, age 30, shot and killed Venzen at the beach. Police also made an arrest in connection with the Market Square killing that occurred earlier this month.
On Monday at approximately 9:30 p.m., Gabriel turned himself in to officers at the Richard N. Callwood Command, where he was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, using a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence, reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and unauthorized possession of firearm ammunition.
Gabriel was processed and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advisement hearing.
Homicide at Coki Point
On Thursday, January 19 at approximately 10:04 p.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call of shots fired at Coki Point Beach in St. Thomas. Units from the Mariel C. Newton Command traveled to the scene and discovered an unresponsive male lying on the ground. The male appeared to have sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Emergency Medical Technicians traveled to Coki Point and concluded that the male did not have any vital signs. Next of kin identified the male as 59-year-old, Delroy A. Venzen. Another male, 31-years-old, sustained a gunshot wound and was transported to the Schneider Regional Medical Center by ambulance for treatment.
The V.I.P.D. is asking persons with information about the Coki Point homicide to contact the department at (340)774-2211), Major Crimes Unit (340)642-8449, or Crime Stoppers USVI here.
