Clients of the Penn Landing Marina have raised a $10,000 reward for information that can lead Police to the identity of the assailants who entered a yacht docked near the premises and discharged a firearm at the yacht owner who was onboard at the time. Photo: Marinas.com

Persons with information can call the Intelligence Unit at 468-9339 or anonymously call the Crimestopper Hotline in Miami at 800-TIPS, 800-8477. The information given could save a life. Photo: VINO/File

Manager of the marina Walter Garimort says clients of the marina are disturbed not only by the unwelcomed intrusion but by the level of violence which was perpetrated against that facility’s guest and are working along with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force to find those who committed the crime.

“My clients and I came up with the idea to raise money to put a reward out to try to get people to report if they know something about this incident. I think this (incident) is very bad for East End; this is very bad for the BVI; this is very bad for the tourism industry. In a way, everyone on the island benefits from these customers, Mr. Garimort noted.

The yacht owner and victim in the incident shared his sadness at the events of that evening.

“I’ve been a visitor to the BVI for 18 years now and one of the attractions here has been always this sense of a safe and warm environment. This particular incident is very disturbing and actually makes my wife and I very sad.

“This is a violence act that we thought could not happen here. We want to stay here. We consider this our second home. But we also have to have the feeling of safety. We are concern for ourselves and our friends here which are many. We hope that possibly this reward will bring about the capture of these people and hopeful put an end to this type of behavior,” he said.

The reward will go to the person who can provide information that will lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the individuals involved in the incident.

On the evening of February 7, the yacht owner, docked just outside Penn’s Landing, reported that he woke to find two masked men onboard his boat attempting to enter his cabin. He shouted at them and they quickly exited the vessel, jumped onto a dinghy and made off. Upon fleeing, one of the assailants fired a shot at the boat which struck the metal mast. The occupant of the boat was uninjured.

Police also appeals to the public for information that could assist in identifying those who are in possession of illegal firearms. Persons with information can call the Intelligence Unit at 468-9339 or anonymously call the Crimestopper Hotline in Miami at 800-TIPS, 800-8477. The information given could save a life.