CHRISTIANSTED — Three St. Croix teenagers were arrested on illegal guns charges after being caught in a routine traffic stop near the Sion Farm Shopping Center eight days ago, authorities said.
Devonte Anthony, 19, of Sion Hill, K’mani Bruce, 18, of Catherine’s Rest, and Nathan Warner, 18, of Sion Farm, were arrested at 11:15 p.m. July 10 and charged with carrying a firearm openly or concealed, possession or sale of ammunition, and alteration of identifying marks of weapons, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
While conducting a DUI checkpoint on Queen Mary Highway, in the vicinity of the Sion Farm Shopping Center, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Anthony. Bruce and Warner were passengers in the vehicle, according to the VIPD.
“During the traffic stop, officers found a loaded firearm with an obliterated serial number,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “Each of the men denied owning the firearm, therefore the three were placed under arrest for having the firearm.”
Bail for Anthony, Bruce, and Warner was set at $50,000 each.
They were all unable to post bail and were remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearings.
Based on the local charges against them, the three teenagers could also face federal firearms charges.
