CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man was charged with attempted murder after police said he shot at court marshals who were trying to execute a warrant, setting off a nearly three-hour-long stand-off that shut down Solberg Road.
The man, Dorian Hairston, 21, of Estate Solberg, was originally taken into custody on October 12, VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said.
The incident began at about 4:07 p.m., when Hairston fired a gun at court marshals executing a warrant at his Solberg residence, according to Dratte.
Police asked residents to stay inside and requested vehicles not to use Solberg Road as officers worked to resolve the situation.
Hairston posted on his public Facebook page several times during the stand-off, at times using expletives to refer to law enforcement officials.
Hours prior to the stand-off, he posted a photo of police vehicles outside his home with the message: “Do not show up to my house without a warrant!”
Hairston taunted police with claims that he was actually in Neltjeberg, and dismissed a negotiator’s attempts to de-escalate the situation.
Police said no one was injured during the shooting or hours-long stand-off.
Hairston was already facing domestic violence charges after his previous arrest on May 10, and he was scheduled to appear in Virgin Islands Superior Court for a hearing in that case October 13.
Hairston spent two months in jail after police charged him with stalking and kidnapping a woman, and he posted $7,500 cash to secure his release on July 12.
But on October 7, Assistant Virgin Islands Attorney General John Barraco filed an emergency motion to revoke bail.
Despite the court’s order that he not contact the victim, Hairston “constantly harassed” her between May and August 10, and left messages on her phone. The victim’s family also recorded some phone conversations after Hairston called her, according to the motion.
“These actions alone constitute a violation of defendant’s bail conditions that he cease contact of any kind” with the victim, Barraco wrote.
On October 21, Hairston, was re-arrested and charged, with Attempted Murder 1st Degree (4 Counts),
Attempted Murder 2nd Degree (4 Counts)
Assault 1st Degree (4 Counts)
Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence
Assault 3rd Degree (4 Counts)
Illegal Discharge of a Firearm
Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence
Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree
Aggravated Assault & Battery
Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Possession of Ammunition
Registration of Firearms Upon Purchase from Dealers;
Registration of Firearms transferred From Non-Dealer
Contempt of Court
Interfering with Officers Discharging His Duty
Destruction of Property
Disturbance of the Peace
The above listed charges are connected to the October 12 shooting incident, when Superior Court Marshals and federal authorities attempted to serve the bench warrant on him, according to police.
Bail for Hairston was set at $500,000. He was already in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the St. Thomas jail when he was re-arrested.
This case is still currently under active investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211 ex. 5576/5572, 911, or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-8477.
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