The V.I. Police Department and Division of Licensing and Consumer Affairs commended DLCA Enforcement Officer Diane Gumbs-Santos on Thursday for her quick thinking and action that led to three arrests after a shooting in the Crucian Christmas Festival Village early New Year’s Day.
V.I. Police Lt. Leslie Pemberton commended Gumbs-Santos for her exemplary performance while assigned at the Frederiksted Festival Village on Jan. 1 where a shooting occurred and one person was injured.
"Officer Santos’ quick thinking in relaying vital information over the airways was instrumental, and the supporting units were able to identify the suspects’ vehicles the path of flight and subsequently made arrests of three individuals and the confiscation of their weapons," Pemberton said.
Pemberton served as commander of the officers assigned to the Festival Village. Those officers included VIPD and DLCA law enforcement officers.
The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. New Year’s Day and the suspects fled in a red vehicle. Gumbs-Santos supplied information that helped officers give chase onto the Melvin Evans Highway. Officers said they observed several items being tossed from the vehicle before it was eventually detained near Estate Hope. There were three suspects in the vehicle. Police allegedly recovered two semiautomatic weapons in the area where items were thrown from the car.
Around 5:30 a.m., police arrested Julian Vera Jr., 20, of Estate Strawberry; Adrian “Samoa” Gerard, 23, of JFK housing community; and Shadow Fleming, 20, of Estate Catherine’s Rest.
Vera had a gunshot wound to his leg, was treated at the JFL hospital and released. A female bystander was also shot in her leg, treated and released. Gunfire damaged several parked vehicles in the area.
The suspects were charged with third-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
"We are very happy and proud one of our officers has received this commendation," said DLCA Commissioner Wayne Biggs at the ceremony in DLCA offices in Estate Orange Grove. "We are there to assist and augment wherever we can," he continued.
DLCA law enforcement officers graduate from the Police Training Academy and are full-fledged peace officers. They regularly augment the VIPD officers in various operations, according to VIPD Public Information Officer Melody Rames.
Gumbs-Santos made a very short comment and just said thanks for the recognition.
