At least three people were shot during J’ouvert, shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday, as the procession moved by the ferry mooring on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. The parade was halted at 9:05 a.m., the V.I. Police Department has confirmed.
No fatalities have been reported at present. The investigation is in its preliminary stages and little more can be confirmed at this time, according to police officials.
"Police are pursuing all leads in this case and it is an active investigation," V.I. Police Department Public Information Officer Melody Rames said at 9:45 a.m.
Preliminary police reports indicate the shootings occurred as the procession moved by the ferry mooring on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront, Rames said. Source reporter James Gardner was near that location at the time and reported hearing no gunfire; although he said multiple bands were playing and it was quite loud.
The first sign of trouble at the location was the sound of an ambulance heading west on Veterans Drive with sirens blaring, Gardner said. After that, a police tow truck, two more ambulances and some police cars went by. These events appeared to indicate the shooting may have occurred closer to the Frenchtown Post Office, but information is sketchy at this point.
Deputy Police Chief Police Dwayne DeGraff then traveled up and down the street, telling the bands to stop playing and asking people in the streets to leave as soon as possible, that they were shutting down J’ouvert.
On Wednesday the governor and acting police commissioner had warned that incidents of violence earlier in the week could curtail remaining Carnival events.
Anyone with information on this morning’s violence is urged to call detectives at 712-6077, 712-6037 or call Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.