Crime

Homicide Suspect Arrested on St. Croix After St. Thomas Killing as He Prepared to Fly Mainland

ST. THOMAS — V.I. Police Department detectives arrested a suspect in the killing of 21-year-old Gerell L. Reed roughly 62 hours after the fatal shooting, tracking the 23-year-old from St. Thomas to St. Croix after receiving information Saturday that he was preparing to take a flight to the U.S. mainland. According to VIPD Director of Communications Glen Dratte, J’vonte W. Mercer was arrested at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday, August 29, according to VIPD. The homicide occurred at approximately 2:49 a.m. Thursday, August 27, putting just 62 hours and 11 minutes between the reported shooting and Mercer’s arrest. His bail was set at $1 million. The investigation began when the ShotSpotter detection system alerted 911 to multiple gunshots fired along Judy M. Gomez Highway on St. Thomas. Shortly afterward, a concerned resident contacted Central Dispatch and reported that a vehicle had struck a wall and that an unresponsive man was inside. Officers responding to the scene found the man ...