CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A routine traffic stop in Sugar Estate netted a St. Thomas man on illegal gun charges Thursday, authorities said. An underage passenger in the car at the time is being held in child protective custody.
Ke-ion K.S. Gabriel, 18, of Oswald Harris Court, was arrested about 12:16 p.m. Thursday and charged with unlicensed possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Police said they stopped a vehicle in Sugar Estate that was heavily tinted and was recognized it immediately as a vehicle that had been involved in another incident.
“The driver was instructed the to exit the vehicle and upon doing so, officers spotted a loaded magazine in the driver’s side door,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “The vehicle was subsequently searched, and a firearm was found.”
The driver of the vehicle, Gabriel, was arrested. A passenger in the vehicle who is a minor who was placed in protective custody and turned over to Juvenile Intensive Support Services (JISS).
Bail for Gabriel was set at $50,000. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections (BOC) pending an advice-of-rights hearing.
“I wish they would start throwing the family out of public housing when an adult in the home commits a crime,” D’Angelo Cerge said. “Maybe mothers would care more about what their kids are into rather than always giving excuses.”
At least 1,586 people were captivated by the story of Gabriel and his young passenger on the Virgin Islands Free Press’ Facebook platform today.
“I’m so tired of the thugs,” Melissa Kirby said. “I hope the child is in safe arms.”
This case is currently under active investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) at (340) 774-2211, or the paying anonymous tip line Crime Stoppers USVI at 1(800) 222-8477.