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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesPolice ID Victim in Saturday Homicide

Police ID Victim in Saturday Homicide

From left, Eugene Roberts, Derick Liburd and Elijah Felix.The V.I. Police Department on Tuesday released photos of three of the five men charged in the murder of 32-year-old Matthew Vernege Jr. and the wounding of a Virgin Islands police officer.

Two additional suspects, Lester Roberts and Larry Williams, are also under arrest, and are being treated at the Juan F. Luis Memorial Hospital. Upon their release they will be processed by the police.

Police said Derick Liburd, 23, Elijah Felix, 18, and Eugene Roberts, 26, along with Roberts and Williams, have been charged with first-degree murder and other charges

According to the police report, Vernege and a woman were leaving the Front Line nightclub early Saturday when they were confronted by the suspects. Shots were fired and Vernege was struck. An off-duty VIPD officer was in the nightclub and informed of the incident. He came outside and told the suspects to drop their weapons. They opened fire on him, hitting him in the back.

Emergency medical technicians arriving on the scene found Vernege unresponsive. His death was the fifth homicide on St. Croix since the beginning of the year, the 12th in the territory.

The wounded police officer remains hospitalized in stable condition. His name has not been released by the department.

Shortly after the incident police were called to a traffic accident in Morningstar, where they found the suspects, two injured by gunshots. Police recovered at least five firearms.

Detectives said this case remains under investigation. Anyone with any additional information regarding the crime can call detectives at 1-340-712-6030 or 1-340-712-6077, the 911 emergency dispatch center, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.

In formation can also be sent by text message by texting USVI and the message to CRIMES, or 274637.

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