Two remanded, two bailed on gun charges
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force continues the fight to remove guns from the streets with the arrest of four persons on firearm charges, while yet another life is loss due to gun violence.
Less than two days prior to the murder of Everton McMaster of Baughers Bay, in an unrelated incident, four persons were charged for a Glock pistol and a loaded magazine uncovered after a search was executed at a premise in Nanny Cay.
Jointly charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm were Reno Alphonso and Paige Weeks, both 26, of no fixed place of abode. Vezya Douglas, 19, of Sea Cows Bay and Jazmyn Christopher, 19, of Fort Hill were also charged. All four appeared before the Magistrate’s Court. Alphonso and Weeks were remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison while Douglas and Christopher were granted bail in the sum $40,000.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwin James points to Friday’s homicide and the upsurge in similar daytime shootings as examples of the reckless, impulsive acts of violence trending recently. He noted that with a firearm in the mix, loss of life is almost inevitable, so he again seeks the help of the public to identify persons with these illegal weapons.
“In this year alone, the RVIPF seized 18 illegal firearms including the one confiscated this week, however there are sadly too many more out there. It is incumbent that we all engage in this fight by reporting to Police the owners of illegal firearms and places where they are hidden,” the Deputy said.
Persons with information about the identity of the individual responsible for Friday’s shooting or those in possession of illegal firearms are asked to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339. All information will be held in the strictest confidence.
Jointly charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm were Reno Alphonso and Paige Weeks, both 26, of no fixed place of abode. Vezya Douglas, 19, of Sea Cows Bay and Jazmyn Christopher, 19, of Fort Hill were also charged. All four appeared before the Magistrate’s Court. Alphonso and Weeks were remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison while Douglas and Christopher were granted bail in the sum $40,000.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwin James points to Friday’s homicide and the upsurge in similar daytime shootings as examples of the reckless, impulsive acts of violence trending recently. He noted that with a firearm in the mix, loss of life is almost inevitable, so he again seeks the help of the public to identify persons with these illegal weapons.
“In this year alone, the RVIPF seized 18 illegal firearms including the one confiscated this week, however there are sadly too many more out there. It is incumbent that we all engage in this fight by reporting to Police the owners of illegal firearms and places where they are hidden,” the Deputy said.
Persons with information about the identity of the individual responsible for Friday’s shooting or those in possession of illegal firearms are asked to contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339. All information will be held in the strictest confidence.
