The V.I. Public Defender’s Office has requested a court-ordered mental health evaluation of the teenager charged with killing Jordan “Dutty Heart” Jones in June on St. Croix.
In a motion filed Dec. 5 in V.I. Superior Court, Assistant Territorial Public Defender Dwayne Henry raised concerns that Angelo Javier Carmona “seems delusional and may not be in touch with reality” and noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that “indigent defendants are entitled to have psychiatric assistance if there is any indication that they are unable to cooperate in their own defense.”
Moreover, Henry said Carmona was 15 at the time of the alleged incident, and “has had a disruptive childhood, including his father being convicted of a domestic sexual offense.”
A psychiatric and psychological exam and evaluation would determine whether Carmona was competent at the time he committed the acts with which he is charged, has the mental capacity to understand the charges against him, “considering his young age,” and “whether he was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time” of the alleged offenses,” according to the motion.
Henry asked that the V.I. Health Department’s Division of Behavioral Health, Alcoholism and Drug Dependency conduct the exam within 30 days, and that the cost be borne by the V.I. Justice Department.
Judge Venetia H. Velazquez had not ruled on the motion as of Thursday. Carmona’s next court date is a discovery conference scheduled for Jan. 7.
The charges against Carmona stem from a broad daylight shooting that occurred around 12:52 p.m. June 5 near the Christiansted Boardwalk. According to police, Jones was shot multiple times and later died at Juan F. Luis Hospital. A bystander who attempted to help Jones suffered a graze wound and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, they said.
An investigation involving surveillance footage and witness interviews led to the Carmona’s arrest later that day. He was advised of his rights in Family Court June 6, and arraigned June 11 in V.I. Superior Court on St. Croix. The DOJ’s motion to transfer the case to adult court was granted June 25.
Carmona faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, first-degree robbery, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of ammunition, according to court filings. He has pleaded not guilty.
The death of Jones, a beloved comedian, shocked the St. Croix community and prompted an outpouring of grief and outrage. This year’s July 4 fireworks show in Frederiksted was held in his honor, with the crowd observing a moment of silence in his memory before the last rocket launched — carrying his ashes.
