A series of violent incidents over the weekend has left the St Thomas community reeling, prompting a call for public assistance from law enforcement officials. Photo: VIC

Captain Bridget Conow, Chief of Detectives for the Criminal Investigation Bureau in the St. Thomas, St. John District, outlined the sequence of violence that plagued the community. "This weekend presented unwanted challenges for our community in the form of senseless violence," Conow stated, requesting the community’s assistance to ensure a safer Virgin Islands.

In the early hours of Saturday at around 4:00 am, gunfire erupted around Curacao Gade, on St. Thomas. Law enforcement responded to reports of two female gunshot victims at Schneider Medical Center. Among them was 20-year-old Amisha Alexander Foy, who tragically succumbed to her injuries, marking a somber note in a string of violent incidents. The second victim sustained a non-threatening gunshot injury, and was shot by Market Square near a club.

Other incidents being investigated

Prior to this fatal shooting, the Criminal Investigation Bureau had been called to investigate several other incidents on March 29. At approximately 9:27 p.m., a male victim was treated for gunshot wounds to his arm after being shot on Wimmelskafts Gade (Back Street), on St. Thomas, by an unknown assailant. Shortly thereafter, at around 10:38 pm, a pregnant female was shot in the arm on Krondprindsen Gade. The suspect,Ricardo M. Rhymer, was apprehended and charged with first-degree assault.

Earlier in the day on March 29, the VIPD made arrests in unrelated cases. Feliciano Comandante Olivieri was extradited from Orange County jail in Orlando, Florida, and arrested on charges of “Aiding and Abetting-Importation of Firearms without a license”. Additionally, Kasiem Marsh of Estate Carolina on St. John was detained for an assault that occurred last October, where he allegedly attacked a victim with rocks.

Then, at about 4:32 p.m. on Saturday, the VIPD's ShotSpotter system recorded one shot fired in the area of Coki Point Beach. When officers arrived on the scene, the victim was in the process of being transported to the hospital by a private vehicle, according to St. Thomas Chief of Police Steven Phillip. Police units subsequently traveled to the hospital and the VIPD observed a male being dropped off with a gunshot wound to his leg.

The VIPD is urging anyone with information about these incidents to come forward. Contacts for the VIPD are 340-774-2211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-Tips (8477), or the Criminal Investigation Bureau Major Crimes Division at 340-642-8449.