ST. CROIX — Angelo Javier Carmona, who was 15 years old when he fatally shot comedian and entertainer Jordan “Dutty Heart” Jones on the Christiansted Boardwalk in June 2025, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of ammunition.
Superior Court Judge Venetia Harvey Velazquez imposed the sentence on October 13, bringing the prosecution to the sentencing stage more than 16 months after the shooting that claimed the life of one of St. Croix’s most recognizable entertainers. Carmona had originally faced first-degree murder and several other felony charges before reaching a plea agreement in August.
The 17-year sentence represents the combined maximum prison terms for the two offenses to which Carmona pleaded guilty: 10 years for voluntary manslaughter and seven years for ammunition possession. Under the agreement, prosecutors committed to dismissing the remaining charges, including robbery, assault, reckless endangerment and unauthorized possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The guilty plea was entered on August 28, just days before Carmona was scheduled to stand trial on August 31. It followed an earlier proposed agreement under which he would have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, with a sentencing recommendation of up to 15 years. Judge Velazquez declined to accept that arrangement, prompting the prosecution and defense to return with a revised agreement allowing a combined sentence of up to 17 years.
The case began on June 5, 2025, when gunfire erupted shortly before 1 p.m. near The Mill on the Christiansted Boardwalk. According to the V.I. Police Department, a male approached Jones and another individual and became involved in a physical confrontation before producing a firearm and opening fire.
Jones, 38, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he died. Another man was grazed by a bullet and survived his injuries. Police said the gunman fled west along the boardwalk following the shooting.
Carmona was apprehended later that day after investigators reviewed surveillance footage, interviewed witnesses and received information from community members. Initially detained at the Youth Rehabilitation Center because of his age, he faced charges that included first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, assault and firearm-related offenses.
The V.I. Department of Justice subsequently sought to have Carmona prosecuted as an adult. Following a June 25, 2025 hearing, Superior Court ordered the case transferred from juvenile jurisdiction to the Criminal Division.
On June 27, police publicly identified Carmona and executed an adult arrest warrant. Bail was set at $500,000, and he was transferred to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility after being unable to post the amount.
The case continued through 2026 as attorneys contested aspects of the prosecution, including whether Carmona could face first-degree murder charges given his age at the time of the shooting. In July, Judge Velazquez denied a defense motion seeking dismissal of those charges. The case remained scheduled for trial until the last-minute guilty plea in August.
Jones, widely known by his entertainment name “Dutty Heart,” had established a following through comedy, music and cultural commentary that reflected everyday Virgin Islands life. His social media skits, including the popular “IF J.C. WAS FROM ST. CROIX,” drew audiences through their use of local humor, dialect and cultural references. He also performed at entertainment venues and comedy events across the territory.
His killing in the middle of the day along one of Christiansted’s most frequented waterfront areas prompted widespread grief and condemnation. A vigil was held on the Christiansted Boardwalk on June 11, 2025, as friends, family members and community supporters gathered to remember the entertainer.
Tuesday’s sentencing followed Carmona’s admission of guilt to the two offenses under the revised plea agreement, rather than a jury verdict on the original first-degree murder charges.
