RVIPF: Sunday’s supermarket shooting was a murder attempt
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has indicated that the shooting incident that happened outside Bobby’s Marketplace on Sunday was a botched assassination attempt and two persons have now been charged.
Charged with attempted murder is 25-year-old Diamond Estate resident, Michael Albert Hatchett.
The police said in a media release on Tuesday that Hatchett was also jointly charged with 21-year-old Tamisha Dennis — also of Diamond Estate — with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, unlawful possession of ammunition, and carrying an unlicensed firearm.
“Inquiries suggest that the target were two individuals seated in a vehicle in the parking lot. However, no one was injured in the incident,” the police added.
As the shooting happened, three vehicles and the storefront windows at Bobby’s were damaged.
And according to the media release, Commissioner of Police Mark Collins is concerned about the “complete disregard to life and property in the early evening incident”.
“Any number of innocent customers to this popular supermarket could have been struck and killed, or seriously injured in this reprehensible act. This could have easily been another life lost and another family in grief. No dispute is worth the loss of a life. Never, ever let anyone in your presence justify carrying a firearm. There is no justification. No one wins in the end,” the Commissioner stated.
The police also used the opportunity to appeal to the public to report the whereabouts of any illegal firearms or any individual in possession of these weapons.
Persons with information can contact the RVIPF’s Special Investigation Team at 284-368-9155 or the RVIPF three-digit access number 311.
The police said in a media release on Tuesday that Hatchett was also jointly charged with 21-year-old Tamisha Dennis — also of Diamond Estate — with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, unlawful possession of ammunition, and carrying an unlicensed firearm.
“Inquiries suggest that the target were two individuals seated in a vehicle in the parking lot. However, no one was injured in the incident,” the police added.
As the shooting happened, three vehicles and the storefront windows at Bobby’s were damaged.
And according to the media release, Commissioner of Police Mark Collins is concerned about the “complete disregard to life and property in the early evening incident”.
“Any number of innocent customers to this popular supermarket could have been struck and killed, or seriously injured in this reprehensible act. This could have easily been another life lost and another family in grief. No dispute is worth the loss of a life. Never, ever let anyone in your presence justify carrying a firearm. There is no justification. No one wins in the end,” the Commissioner stated.
The police also used the opportunity to appeal to the public to report the whereabouts of any illegal firearms or any individual in possession of these weapons.
Persons with information can contact the RVIPF’s Special Investigation Team at 284-368-9155 or the RVIPF three-digit access number 311.
