CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man accused of murder in March of 2018 was roaming free to try to kill someone again yesterday.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received notification of shots fired in the Ruby M. Rouss Housing Community at 9:44 p.m. Monday, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Officers traveled to the area and were advised of a gunshot victim in the vicinity of the nearby Seaborne Airlines terminal, according to the VIPD.
“Investigation revealed the victim was being chased and shot at by a suspect, and the victim ran towards the terminal to seek shelter from the attack,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said.
The victim received a gunshot wound to his left leg and was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center via ambulance for treatment, police said.
“Further investigation has revealed the suspect in this shooting is Manuel Davis Melendez, AKA ‘Matatan,'” Derima said.
Davis Melendez was described by police as being “a Hispanic male with long black hair kept in braids or ponytails. He stands between 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds.”
Davis Melendez has multiple tattoos; most prominent is a cross tattoo on the center of his neck, a tattoo that reads “De’ Jari” surrounded by orange flames to the left side of his neck, a tattoo that reads “Manuel” on his left forearm, a dice with stars and flames tattoo on top of his left hand, and a tattoo that reads “RIP Elvis” on the top of his right hand.
He is known to frequent Williams Delight, Old Fredensborg, and Ruby Rouss Apartments. Davis Melendez is considered dangerous.
“Mata” means “to kill” in Spanish.
Davis Melendez was arrested by dutiful VIPD officers in March of 2018, but was set free by liberal, unqualified judges from the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands appointed by Mapp.
If you know of Davis Melendez’s whereabouts, or if you have information about this incident, you are urged to contact police by calling 911, the Crime TipLine at (340) 778-4950, or Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-TIPS.
Mapp is reportedly working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and living in Naples, Florida building a multi-million-dollar home there, according to David Mapp.