CRUZ BAY — A man was arrested for discharging his firearm in two locations on St. John last year, authorities said.
Jose Bolques, 39, was arrested and charged with illegal discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of an unlicensed firearm within 1,000 feet of a housing community/preschool, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The case began at 8:45 p.m. on December 9, 2024, when the ShotSpotter detection system alerted 911 of shots being fired near Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Jose Bolques, 39, of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Then on December 12, 2024, at approximately 1:27 a.m., officers were dispatched to Upstairs Bar and Grill in Cruz Bay in reference to a report of shots being fired, police said.
In each instance, spent casings were recovered from the areas where shots were heard, according to police.
During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect responsible for discharging of shots in each instance was Jose Bolques, police said.
An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained for Jose Bolques, according to police.
Bolques surrendered himself to officers at the Leander Jurgen Command on St. John at 1:00 p.m. today without incident, police said.
The suspect, Bolques, was booked and processed. His bail was set at $50,000.00.
Unable to post bail, he was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the St. Thomas jail.
Bolques is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing at the Superior Court in the Farrrely Justice Complex in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.
This case remains under active investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Anyone with relevant information regarding these crimes is urged to contact 911, or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-693-8880 ext. 5207 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-8477.
