A St. Thomas man is in custody after an apparent domestic disturbance turned deadly on Saturday. The defendant is charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree murder.
Investigators said accused killer Richard Liverpool told witnesses he wanted to kill his brother, Steave Liverpool after the pair engaged in a heated argument Saturday morning. A call to the 911 emergency line sent police to the home they shared in Estate Thomas after hearing reports of a possible shooting.
A witness to the argument that allegedly led to the shooting said the dispute broke out after the two traveled together to buy chicken feed for birds they cared for.
Steave Liverpool, 48, was found lying unresponsive at the scene with apparent gunshot wounds, court documents said. He was later declared dead on the scene. Richard Liverpool remained at home, in his apartment, and told witnesses he would wait for police to arrive.
But once authorities appeared, the accused gunman initially refused to come out and meet them. Richard Liverspool surrendered after more police arrived at the crime scene. A loaded ammunition clip was found in his pocket during a search, authorities said.
Witnesses interviewed on the day of the shooting said they tried to calm the suspect down over the phone and in person. While giving their statement, one witness said they asked the gunman why he wanted to kill Steave Liverpool.
“(The)Witness … indicated that Richard Liverpool responded, ‘for his mouth!’,” the report said. About five minutes later, that witness told police they heard four gunshots.
After telling arresting officers he did not want to speak until he had a lawyer present, the suspect blurted out a comment about a handgun being found near the victim’s body.
“ … Richard Liverpool was then reminded that he had invoked his 5th Amendment Right, and he wanted to refrain from making a statement,” investigators said.
At the Monday hearing, Superior Court Magistrate Paula Norkadis upheld charges of first- and second-degree murder, first- and third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and related weapons charges. Norkadis also upheld the $1 million bail amount set at the time of the arrest.
Richard Liverpool will have a chance to plead guilty or innocent of those charges at an arraignment hearing set for Aug. 11. If convicted of the most serious charge, the defendant faces a possible sentence of life in prison with no parole.
