FREDERIKSTED — The underwear clad intruder who startled a homeowner in Whim Thursday was re-arrested early Saturday morning after violating the terms of his release.
Jelani James, 44, while appearing before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Brow Ross, was released into the custody of his father during his advice of rights hearing on Friday,
The father called the 911 dispatcher at 1:49 a.m. Saturday requesting assistance with Jelani James, who was not complying with his orders, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Jelani James pushed his father out of his apartment and while he was outside on his mobile device with 911,” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said. “Jelani James retrieved the father’s firearm from his bag and fired multiple rounds through the window, hitting the father in the neck area.”
The shooting victim has been identified as Gustav James, the former Public Works Commissioner under former Governor Kenneth E. Mapp.
The gunshot wound was non-fatal, and Gustav James was able to drive himself to the Juan F. Luis Hospital in Estate Diamond for treatment, according to Dratte.
Police with the Special Operations Bureau (SOB) were able to enter the James family’s rental units in order to confront Jelani James after the shooting, according to the VIPD.
Jelani James was arrested and taken into custody without incident and the firearm was recovered at the crime scene, police said.
He was processed and taken to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending his advice-of-rights hearing on Monday, April 25, 2022.
On Thursday, a Whim resident told police he was sleeping in his bedroom when he was awakened by James in “his underwear with a metal object in his hands.”
The suspect was then charged with home invasion, first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary by police.
People reading the Virgin Islands Free Press on social media felt that police were withholding important details about this case.
“I still wanna know, WHY WAS HE IN HIS DRAWERS? WE NEED ANSWERS,” Everette Sargeant said on Facebook.
“People are adding to a story that they know nothing about,” Edwin Thomas said. “Read the latest Breaking News. It’s a family domestic matter! Close family at that!”