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Mugshot of Ricardo Richards. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — The V.I. Police Department on Wednesday announced the arrest of 25-year-old Ricardo Richards who was wanted in connection with the January 17, 2022 double homicide of male minors in Castle Coakley.
The arrested was executed by Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives on the authority of an arrest warranted approved by a Superior Court judge.
Another suspect, 27-year-old Ozanie I. Cornelius was arrested without incident on Friday and his residence was searched, according to police.
Richards was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, carrying or using a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Unable to make bail of $2.5 million, he was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advisement hearing.
“This case stems from the January 17, 2022, murders of Odonnie Heywood and Jah’ny Ledesma both 17-years-old, who were shot multiple times while driving through Old Castle Coakley. They were stopped and approached by Cornelius and Richards who were both heavily armed, Cornelius with a handgun and Richards with a high-powered rifle," stated Chief Detective, Lt. Naomi Joseph.
She added, “There were also similarly armed individuals on top of the two-story building in the area, and they all opened fire on the vehicle containing two minors and the adult driver. We collected over two hundred spent casings from the crime scene and the majority was from a high-powered rifle. Mr. Richards also sought medical attention for a gunshot wound that night, however claimed that he was shot at Thomas Bakery in Old Castle Coakley. The minors died instantly, and the adult survived from the multiple gunshot wounds that he sustained."
The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information about the double homicide to call the CIB Tip-line 340-778-4850, 340-712-6092, or send an anonymous tip to Crime stoppers USVI here.
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