Feb. 11, 2009 — Police on St. Croix confiscated three illegal weapons — including an assault rifle — in Estate Mon Bijou as part of a continuing investigation of shots being discharged.
The shots were reported to emergency 911 at 1:37 p.m. Wednesday.
One AK 47, two shotguns and a cache of ammunition have been confiscated so far. The weapons and ammunition were found in the bushes behind homes. Police Chief Oakland Benta said "arrests are imminent."
More than two dozen law-enforcement officers converged on the area following the discharging of shots, including the VIPD Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Investigation Bureau detectives, Major Crimes detectives, forensic investigators and Project Safe Neighborhood, along with local FBI agents.
Benta repeated his earlier statements that persons who fire shots in residential areas without regard for the lives of innocent persons who may be injured or killed by gunfire will face penalties of reckless endangerment when apprehended.
"There are mothers, fathers, grandparents and children in the area who should feel safe in their homes," Benta said. "These suspects, when apprehended, will be charged with at least 60 counts of reckless endangerment — one count for every innocent resident in the area they placed in danger."
Anyone with information on this incident can call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 712-6077, 712-6037, the chief's office at 712-6005 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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