TRIPLE PLAY! AFTER MURDERS GALORE IN THE USVI, VIPD ROUNDS UP THE USUAL SUSPECTS

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department made several arrests and confiscations involving firearms around the territory over the weekend.

On January 29, at about 4:30 a.m., officers on St. Thomas arrested La-Shorn Samuel, 33, of Estate Wintberg, charging him with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.

“Samuel was observed by officers with a loaded handgun, along with several extended magazines, after responding to shots fired in the vicinity of Crystal Gade,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said.

Bail for Samuel was set at $60,000, which he was unable to post. He was subsequently turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights hearing.

Also on January 29, at 10:18 p.m., officers on St. Croix arrested 28-year-old Jimmar Payne of Estate White Lady, charging him with carrying of firearm openly or concealed, according to the VIPD.

“Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Payne on the Melvin H. Evans Highway, in the vicinity of the Ricardo Richards Elementary School,” Derima said. “During the course of the traffic stop, officers learned that a firearm was in the vehicle, and Payne could not produce a valid license to possess the firearm.”