Community Gathers for Vigil in Wake of Rising Gun Violence

A somber vigil held Thursday night on St. Thomas gave families and friends of those lost to gun violence a space to mourn, pray and seek solace.

The event, hosted by the Gun Violence Prevention Office and moderated by Pastor Gerard McDonald, saw the community come together in a powerful display of unity and grief. Electric candles illuminated the faces of attendees as the names of each individual murdered in 2024 were solemnly read aloud, a stark reminder of the lives tragically cut short.

Desiree Lambertis, a victim advocate with Inspire VI, LLC, delivered a stirring address, her voice resonating with both pain and determination. “The reality of the Virgin Islands is that we’re living in fear,” she declared. “We’re being held hostage. They kill our sons, they kill our daughters … and we are afraid to say what we know and what we hear.” Lambertis urged the community to break the silence, emphasizing that solving these crimes requires collective courage and a refusal to succumb to fear. “This is our community,” she implored. “One percent of the people out there are holding us hostage.”