Suspect in St. Croix murder to plead guilty to possession of ammunition

A man charged with murder in 2022, Jahreem Lake, has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of unauthorized possession of ammunition, according to an agreement with prosecutors.

Lake, 30, was arrested days after the Sept. 30, 2022, shooting and charged with killing 31-year-old Dishawn Huggins on St. Croix. The case began at around 9:59 p.m. when police responded to 911 calls about gunfire in the Paradise Mills housing community, and found Huggins lying dead in the grass.

Tips from the community led police to Lake, who was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, which carries a life sentence. V.I. Police identified the victim as “Deshawn Huggins” in 2022, but his first name is spelled “Dishawn” in court records and his obituary. According to the probable cause fact sheet filed by police, Lake told investigators that “he aimed and discharged his firearm at Deshawn Huggins a.k.a. ‘Gusto,’” firing two shots at the victim’s chest.