Two men, 35-year-old Karime Williams and 27-year-old Akeem Herbert, were arrested shortly after noon Tuesday after a report of gunshots and an attempted burglary in the Western Suburb area of the Christiansted Cemetery.
According to the V.I. Police Department, at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday police were called to a shot-fired report in the Western Suburb area. At the scene, officers received a report regarding an interrupted home burglary.
The homeowner, whose name was not released by police, said the two suspects squeezed themselves out from behind the home’s burglary bars and a struggled ensued. The two black men assaulted the homeowner and took her cellphone. One of the suspects fired a shot and both fled the area on foot, police were told.
Officers located the suspects with the community’s assistance and the two were identified as the gun-toting culprits. They were arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, reckless endangerment and other gun charges. A telephonic warrant was sought and granted for a Christiansted home to which the men fled. A search of the home yielded four weapons, which included an AK assault weapon.
Williams Herbert age 27 were each held on $75,000. They were unable to post bond and remanded to Golden Grove Detention Center pending advised of rights hearing.
Chief Winsbut McFarlande credits the officer’s speedy response and good coordination between the responding officers, the Patrol Division, the Criminal Investigation bureau and the Special Operations quick response team. He also thanked the community for its assistance, and encouraged citizens to report any crime to you to the VIPD at 340 778 2211 or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.