CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Police arrested four people Wednesday afternoon after a “high-speed chase” that ended near Charlotte Amalie High School, with shots being fired at officers in the process.
Virgin Islands Police Department spokesman Karl Caesar said that an initial call reported shots fired in the Bovoni area. A “high-speed chase” ensued, he said, and “they ended up on the avenue” next to CAHS.
VIPD patrol officers from the Richard Callwood, Newton Command and Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives responded to a 911 call of shots fired in the Bovoni housing project about 4:31 p.m. Wednesday.
This led to the arrest of Rasheem Morton, Jr., 20, of Estate Bovoni Apartments, Bldg. C and Kevon Barcelette, 18, of Bldg. 9 of the Paul M. Pearson Gardens on St. Thomas, according to Caesar.
VIPD Detectives were advised that the suspects that fired the shots left the housing community in a black Nissan Sentra at a high rate of speed heading towards the Bolongo Bay area. Officers in pursuit were able to encounter the vehicle in the Havensight area.
Police identified Morton Jr. as the driver of what was later discovered as a stolen vehicle. He refused officers’ command to stop the vehicle. A pursuit ensued, leading the chase from Havensight area to the Sugar Estate area which ultimately came to a stop in the 2nd Street area in the vicinity of a Day Care facility. But not before Morton Jr. collided with a marked police unit.
With the vehicle stopped, Morton Jr. and Barcelette along with two minor male passengers, jumped out of the vehicle to escape VIPD officers. The suspects opened fire on officers during a foot chase pursuit. While evading gunfire, officers were able to apprehend all four suspects.
Morton, Jr. and Barcelette are charged with Constructive Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Stolen Property; Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle; Resisting Arrest; Possession of Marijuana; and Assault in the 3rd Degree. Both men were unable to post bail and were turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending their Advice of Rights Hearing.
Anyone having any information about this or any other crime please contact the Virgin Islands Police Department at (340)774-2211 ext. 5617, Major Crime Unit at (340)714-9830 or the Criminal Investigation Bureau (340)714-9807. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477 or 911. We need your help and the entire community’s involvement.