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Police seeking public's help on weekend shootings; illegal guns

- ToP Cop urges public to not keep secrets of perpetrators following separate shooting death & injury
May 29th, 2023 | Tags: RVIPF Manchester shooting BVI police
Commissioner of Police Mark Collins has noted that while the RVIPF’s fight to remove illegal firearms from the streets continues, the community must also join in the battle. Photo: VINO/File
Police in a release today, May 29, 2023, that midnight on Saturday, May 27, 2023, they received reports of shots fired in the Manchester area where Vicardo Farrell, 33, a resident of Major Bay was wounded and subsequently died from his injuries. Photo: Team of Reporters
Police in a release today, May 29, 2023, that midnight on Saturday, May 27, 2023, they received reports of shots fired in the Manchester area where Vicardo Farrell, 33, a resident of Major Bay was wounded and subsequently died from his injuries. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Detectives of the RVIPF are appealing for witnesses or persons with information to come forward and assist with inquiries over two shootings over the May 26th weekend that has left one dead and one injured.

As first and accurately reported by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) Police in a release today, May 29, 2023, said midnight on Saturday, May 27, 2023, they received reports of shots fired in the Manchester area. 

“Vicardo Farrell, 33, a resident of Major Bay was wounded and subsequently died from his injuries. A male victim of another shooting in Long Bush on Sunday before 9:00 pm was taken to the hospital for treatment. He is presently in stable condition,” police said. 

Commissioner of Police Mark Collins has noted that while the RVIPF’s fight to remove illegal firearms from the streets continues, the community must also join in the battle.

Help us restore calm & peace - Top Cop Collins 

“We are all at risk of injury or death in these premeditated acts of violence. Do not keep the secrets of these perpetrators. If they fear exposure, they will stop, help us to restore a sense of calm and peace in our communities,” the Commissioner said.

Meanwhile, the police added that Four firearms, including two semi-automatic weapons, were seized in the search of residences at Spooners Estate last week. The week prior another firearm was confiscated from an 18-year-old scooter rider.

“The RVIPF is continuing to do its part to reduce the number of illegal firearms on the streets of the Territory and is appealing to persons with information on suspected persons or the locations where these firearms are being held,” the release added.

The force added that persons can call the CrimeStoppers line 800-8477 (TIPS) or overseas call 1-284-800-8477 with the relevant information or contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339.

24 Responses to “Police seeking public's help on weekend shootings; illegal guns”

  • Sad (29/05/2023, 13:24) Like (18) Dislike (7) Reply
    The culture of "no snitching" has crippled many communities. And the BVI is no different.
    • To sad (29/05/2023, 13:48) Like (25) Dislike (15) Reply
      That is not the root of the problem. It is the lack of trust in the police especially now with the increase of UK officers who sell out the people even more than before because they care even less than the others before.
    • l (29/05/2023, 18:11) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ Sad, If I knew, I would send an anonymous letter with all of the details and drawings. You don't need to use a phone. The police do need help and we need to help anonymously to keep us safe! I am tired of all of these shootings and you never know if you might innocently get caught in these idiots' cross-fire.
  • WHEN THEY DOING IT TO OTHERS (29/05/2023, 13:28) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    SOME DON'T THINK IT CAN COME BACK
    TO HAUNT THEM , / ITS CALLED THE CONCIQUENCES , OR ( STREET JUSTICE )
    YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT , UNTILL BULLETS START RIPPING THROUGH YOUR BODY LIKE THEY RIPPED THROUGH THE PERSON BODY WHEN YOU WERE THE EXECUTIONER , BY THEN IT TOO LATE , SO TRYING PLAY LIKE YOU CHANGING YOUR
    LIFE PLAYING HOLY , ISN'T GOING TO WORK , YOU WILL BE GETTING A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE / THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE STILL AINT GETTING THE MESSAGE , BECAUSE THEY ARE HOOKED ON THE COCAINE AND THEIR MINDS ARE IN FANTASY LAND , SADLY ???? SOME ARE INNOCENT , THEIR SO CLED FRIENDS ARE SLIPPING DRUGS IN YOUR SMOKE / YOUR DRINKS OR YOUR FOOD , SO YOU WILL BE HOOKED TOO , ( SO ALWAYS CHECK
    YOURSELF , VERY CAREFULLY ) , AND AS THE SONG GOES ( MANY MORE WILL SUFFER AND MANY MORE WILL DIE ) THE WHITE LADY IS IN RUNNING THINGS
  • Youth with real talk (29/05/2023, 13:46) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    We must work together to stop all forms of violence and crime in the BVI. We must support the police, leaders, churches, social organizations, and parents in keeping our youth in a positive direction. There is only a very small percentage of the BVI population involved in such activities so we ask this Commissioner of Police & the Governor to stop portraying to the international world as if this is the norm and reputation of the majority of people of the BVI as it is not but they continue to do so. Everywhere in the world including the big UK & USA is dealing with significant increases in these kinds of crime so it is not a BVI thing alone so on behalf of the huge law-abiding majority of the BVI population I ask that they stop intentionally branding the BVI as such. There is extremely more good happening in the BVI than bad.
  • Local (29/05/2023, 14:34) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    A lot of people don't want to heat about cameras all over in public places. But we desperately need them to help before things get worse.
    • @local (29/05/2023, 16:23) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
      I agree with you but the real fear that people are afraid to say publicly is there is a growing concern of abuse of power by the police. There needs to be control of the powers of the police and a balance in the laws to protect persons when such abuse takes place. This is a real issue especially how the UK Officers and Commissioner is going about things. The support for the police is needed but there must be a balance as there is a huge lack of trust.
    • @local (30/05/2023, 00:36) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Then the ones that don’t want cameras all over the place are the ones that have something to hide or is a part of the criminal activity that is going on.
  • Quiet Warrior (29/05/2023, 16:18) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    Undoubtedly, violent and property is a menace, a nuisance, a serious quality of life issue for BVI residents who look to the RVIPF for protection, ie to serve and protect. Further, the police needs the help of the community to serve and protect. Nevertheless, the police is stratified among U.K. police, other police, and locals to be effective. It seems like the RVIPF is weaponize to use U.K. officers to go after locals. The U.K. are compensated better than others for doing similar work. Moreover, the RVIPF leaks more than a sieve to be effective; ie, it leaks more than s sieve. It is not trust worthy, hindering informants to come forward, it is a corrupt institution that fails under the purview of Governor John Rankin, CMG, and gotten a free pass, ie, Sir Gary Hickinbottom’s one-sided CoI. Policing and security have been a vital part of the Colonialism construct. The colonialists have always been fearful that the slaves would rebel against them and get revenge for the maltreatment . Consequently, they exercise strict control, starting with the police. Take a peek bsckwards or even forward, the U.K. would quicker, easier and more willingly fund a jail than a school. Where is the His Majesty High School or College? None. But there is an His Majesty’ s Prison. The brutes don’t need any education; lock the brutes up like caged animals. The RVIPF needs a transfusion and be transformed to be effective and trustworthy. The U.K. as the Administering Power is tasked with helping the VI and other OTs toward a full measure of self-governance. Instead l, they are havens for employment of Britons. The VI has been under the UK ‘s umbrella since 1672 and a colony since around 1960 but to this date only white males have been despatched as as either Commissioner, Administrator or Governor. Is this a deliberate act to send people who tge crown feel comfortable with?
    • @Quiet Warrior (29/05/2023, 18:49) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      Well said. The Governor has failed the police force and I will explain. The force had plenty good officers who were both locals and Caribbean people at the senior positions. They all have since retired which means they worked from 25yrs to 33 and one third years. This means their retirement should not have caught anyone by surprise. Over the last 20 yrs the Governors & his UK Commissioners of Police knew these post would become vacant and they did no succession planning which was intentional as they always play the long ball game. They saw this as an opportunity to justify the need to now flood the police force with UK Officers in senior positions and on contract. It is about a takeover and not the people. They think we are not watching and taking notes. In addition, the display of racism is real but they get offended when they are called out.
    • Quiet Warrior (29/05/2023, 20:04) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      You ate stock in your old mentality
      We talking about gun in the street,you like it ?
      Well if not ,black or white we need to find a solution
      As nothing to do with what you talking about.
      • @Quiet Warrior (30/05/2023, 07:31) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        This is either an inadvertent error or deliberate to cause more confusion. Look, I can say what I say on my own ( real QW) and draw my own feedback without your help. Thank you.
    • truth is truth (29/05/2023, 20:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Quiet Warrior, some people are uncomfortable hearing truth and pretends things are not the way they are., They Will provide any evidence to disprove the truth. But will be quick to accuse of hate., to distract, deflect, etc.

  • tough one (29/05/2023, 18:51) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    I am one of those who support the police all the way but I also come to realize that the BVI has to be extremely watchful of this present Commissioner of Police. This is all I will say for now.
    • @tough one (30/05/2023, 00:32) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      What kind of stupidity are you spitting. The people of the BVI HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY WATCHFUL OF THEIR OWN. That is all I will say at this time.
      • @@tough one (31/05/2023, 00:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Say it again! You know it’s the same person/people spitting their garbage on here!
  • Junie (29/05/2023, 19:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Wow

  • Blind Man (29/05/2023, 19:58) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    People will not come forth for fear the prison system is weak and within the the police force there is no confidence or trust. There will always be a deaf and blind attitude. Change the system and the atmosphere within the police and the prison. Governor and chief of police needs to take over the prison or have UK prison officers all UK officers run the prison have them rotate every six months. More police presence especially on weekends and holidays when incident are prune to happen we need deterrent.
  • Bloodbath (29/05/2023, 21:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s a blood bath in our little nation from all the sacrifices from the election. Our Country is suffering for the wants power and greed of a select few who will do nothing to stop to satisfy their gloat for power.
  • I WILL SAY THIS MUCH (30/05/2023, 09:30) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You can turn someone in without your identity being revealed. What are you going to do? Continue to live in fear all your life? Hate to say it but when they have a mass shooting here in the BVI THEN MAYBE THEY WILL START TURNING THEM IN. Just this Holiday weekend 16 people were gun down in the US while they were at the beach or at family outings. Don’t think it will not or never happen on this tiny Island because NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO GUN VIOLENCE. I AM VERY VIGILANT ABOUT MY SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES.
    • I Will Say This Mucher (30/05/2023, 11:23) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      VI ain't have that tripping mentality for Mass shootings....Every person who get gundown has knowledge of who their killer is/was.. it's some dumb beef they had with each other........but never anything random
  • To Top Cop (30/05/2023, 10:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just make sure that the CCTV cameras are all working first and then have new ones installed in strategic areas so that you and the force are better able to see wha goin on. Community policing is now about having family days evry month but about consistent patrols and interactions with community members to build trust and strengthen collaboration. Maybe then is when people will be more willing to talk wha dem see, hear and know. We'll wait for you.


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