FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man was arrested on attempted murder charges after he allegedly fired gunshots at a person in Clifton Hill nearly three months ago then fled the territory to avoid prosecution, authorities said.
Hezekiah E. Thompson, 18, of Estate Profit, was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday and charged with first-degree attempted murder, third-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm openly or concealed, unauthorized possession of ammunition, and discharging or aiming a firearm, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
‘Thompson is accused of firing several shots at an individual in the Clifton Hill area on February 16, 2020,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said “Thompson was located and detained in Puerto Rico. VIPD detectives traveled to Puerto Rico to take Thompson into custody and return him to the territory to face the charges against him.”
Bail for Thompson was set at $250,000. Unable to make bail, he was remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearing.
“Thompson was detained by authorities in Puerto Rico and extradited to the Virgin Islands,” Derima told the Virgin Islands Free Press this morning. “Our detectives went to Puerto Rico to pick him up.”
Sidney Elskoe, St. Croix District Chief of Police, commended detectives for Thompson’s arrest and issued a notice to residents who flee the territory after committing crimes to avoid prosecution.
“We have the resources and the tenacity to find suspects of crime, even if they leave the territory,” Chief Elskoe said. “Let this arrest be an example to everyone who thinks they can leave the Virgin Islands and get away. We will find you.”
Thompson was arrested by VIPD detectives based on a warrant issued by the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.