Safer Communities: Are We Making Progress on Gun Violence?

In 2021, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. launched a partnership with the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) to tackle the rising gun violence in the Virgin Islands through intervention programs and law enforcement training.

Two years later, as the NNSC contract has expired, the fight to curb gun violence continues, now shaped by the lessons from this partnership and insights gained from national models. Despite these efforts, the toll of gun violence remains painfully evident. This past weekend, two men were tragically gunned down, leaving their communities devastated. Walton “Selah” Macedon, 67, was found unresponsive on Sunday morning in St. Croix’s Golden Rock area. Despite efforts to save him, Macedon succumbed to his injuries, marking St. Croix’s 11th homicide of the year. Known for his warmth and presence, Macedon’s sudden death has shaken his community. A day earlier, Venquon N. Richardson, 26, was shot and killed at a gas station in Bovoni, St. Thomas. Found with multiple gunshot wounds, Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene—St. Thomas’ 17th homicide of the year. His loss has left residents frustrated and searching for answers as gun violence continues to claim lives across the territory.

In an effort to assess whether progress is being made in reducing gun violence, the Source reached out to Anthony Emanuel, director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), who, fresh from a five-month fellowship at the University of Chicago Crime Lab, discussed the strategies he’s working to implement in the territory, despite his small team of four or five staff members and a budget of under $1 million.