CHRISTIANSTED — Authorities have charged 33-year-old Aneudis Acevedo with leading federal law enforcement on a high-speed boat chase after a shooting Sunday on Buck Island.
Acevedo, of St. Croix, made his initial appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr. after he was arrested by National Park Service rangers, who charged him with interfering with agency functions, violating a lawful order, disorderly conduct and resisting or impeding an officer of the United States.
According to court documents, in the late afternoon of January 10, 2021, shots were fired on Buck Island after a fight occurred on the beach.
Immediately after the shots were fired, Acevedo fled the scene in his boat at a high rate of speed while carrying several passengers. He fled from a National Park Service boat, disobeying multiple orders directing him to stop.
Ultimately, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) assisted and took Acevedo into custody. However, at that point the boat passengers were no longer on the boat.
A subsequent search of Acevedo’s boat yielded a loaded firearm, a small amount of marijuana, and five cell phones.
The investigation in this matter is ongoing and is being conducted by the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt.
Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, Shappert said.