Crime

Feds File Motion to Stay Proceedings Filed in VIPD Detective Murder Case Amid Death Penalty Reinstatement

ST. THOMAS — Federal prosecutors have filed a motion to stay proceedings in the case of Richardson Dangleben Jr., who is accused of murdering V.I. Police Department Detective Delberth Phipps on July 4, 2023. The request comes as a result of President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of the federal death penalty, which directly impacts the potential sentencing in this case. Dangleben was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023, on 13 federal and territorial charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault, and multiple firearm offenses. The indictment followed a violent confrontation in St. Thomas’ Hospital Ground area, where Dangleben allegedly opened fire on Detective Phipps and VIPD Officer Shahim Skeete. The officers returned fire, but Detective Phipps sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead at Schneider Regional Medical Center. Authorities recovered an assault rifle covered in blood, along with two assault rifle magazines, ...