Atop from left: Shermar Richardson, 24, Shameek Grant, 28, and Akeem Hopkinson, 22. Below, Tyann Smith, 20 of Freshwater Pond Photo Credit: VI (BVI) NEWS ONLINE
TORTOLA, BVI — Two females are among five individuals charged in an April 18 robbery incident that turned deadly in the British Virgin Islands.
According to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Teffiny Smith, age 18 of Zion Hill was charged Tuesday with aiding the four others in a robbery incident that resulted in the death of 67-year-old Catherine Pickering.
Teffiny joins one other female, Tyann Smith, age 20 of Freshwater Pond being implicated in the deadly incident. Male suspect Shemar Richardson was charged with providing information to the suspects who allegedly committed the crime: 22-year-old Akeem Hopkinson along 28-year-old Shameek Grant, both of whom have been charged with murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and robbery, according to police.
BVI Director of Public Prosecutions, Tiffany Scatliffe-Esprit has alleged that footage from a video camera inside Hopkinson’s apartment shows two females removing a bag containing an AK47 assault rifle, which BVI police believe to be the murder weapon.
The two women returned to the apartment at a later time but did not have the weapon with them, and it has not been recovered to date.
The female suspects were granted bail pending appearances before the Magistrate Court in the BVI, which has been scheduled for May 6.
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Here's how the incident unfolded, according to BVI News:
The shooting— Multiple spent shells
The DDP alleges that about 7:00 p.m. on April 18, Maricel Pickering (daughter to the deceased victim) closed her business — Big Brothers Gas Station — to head home. She had in her possession a plastic bag containing $3,100 which is said to be her day’s earnings.
She gave a ride to her employee, Shemar Richardson who is accused of feeding inside information to the perpetrators who executed the crime.
After dropping off Richardson in Gene Hill, she stopped to visit her brother whom she gave $150 from the aforementioned sum, the court heard.
When she eventually arrived at her Pariquita Bay residence which she shares with her mother, Catherine, she exited the vehicle and was startled by a male voice saying “give me the money”.
She dropped the bag and ran, the court heard.
As she was running away, she heard several gunshots being fired at her so she sought refuge on the porch of her mother’s dwelling while screaming for help. Catherine, who was home, responded to her daughter’s screams and was fatally shot.
A motor scooter was heard leaving the scene after the gunfire abated. Police later arrived and recovered and 7.62 spent shells, which are normally associated with AK47 assault rifles.
Before the shooting, according to BVI News
Upon reviewing the footage, police saw Hopkinson entering his residence on April 16 with three other men including his co-accused, Grant. Hopkinson was reportedly carrying a bag from which he removed an AK47 assault rifle. He was then seen showing off the weapon to the men.
It is alleged that on the following day, Hopkinson was seen taking the gun to his bedroom in the presence of Grant and his girlfriend Teffiny Smith.
Further viewing of the footage shows Hopkins leaving his apartment on April 18 (the day of the crime). He was reportedly carrying the bag with the gun, which he placed in the storage area of the scooter before riding off.
The court heard that Grant remained at the apartment and was seen on his phone on multiple occasions between 6:13 pm and 6:52 pm. Around 6:51 pm, Grant reportedly made a phone call to Hopkinson and cell site analysis placed Hopkinson in the area of Paraquita Bay at that time.
