CHARLOTTE AMALIE — St. Thomas District Police Chief Ludrick Thomas, in a recent appeal on social media, told the public that the VIPD was concerned about the recent acts of gun violence within our communities and asked for the community’s engagement in crime reduction.
Chief Thomas mentioned the increased police presence in Hospital Ground and pledged an increased presence and enforcement in other communities of concern in St. Thomas.
“I want to assure the community, especially the individuals that reside in the Hospital Ground area — all available manpower is being dispatched to this situation and to that particular area,” Thomas said on WSTA-1340 “Lucky 13” on April 10.
Acting on information, officers of the Special Response Team of the VIPD Special Operations Bureau, along with other local and federal law enforcement agencies, conducted an operation in the Bovoni housing community.
Thomas said that gun violence is a problem in our community and information led the Team to search vacant apartments for evidence of illegal activity in the Estate Bovoni Apartments housing community.
Chief Thomas thanked the community for their support of law enforcement as they conducted the search. An assault rifle that was hidden in one of the vacant apartments was also recovered.
The weapon was collected and photographed for evidentiary value and a ballistics test will be conducted to determine if the ballistic signature of this firearm is tied to any of the recent shootings or acts of reckless endangerment in the territory.
Chief Thomas is urging anyone with information about this discovered firearm to contact 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 774-2211 or the paying anonymous tip line Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
“Remember, you may be eligible for a reward, and you will remain anonymous,” he said.