A woman underwent surgery Wednesday morning at the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital after being injured by gunfire during a shootout at the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion housing community, the V.I. Police Department said. One man was arrested.
The woman, whose name was not released by the police, was listed in stable condition Wednesday night.
According to the police report, at about 8:18 a.m. July 1, the 911 Emergency Call Center received multiple reports of shots being fired at the housing community.
Witnesses reported that several Black males in a vehicle entered into the housing community and began damaging a vehicle. The owner of the vehicle, later identified as 22-year-old Jahamon Bruce of Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion, appeared on the scene with a firearm, at which time the males who had damaged the vehicle began shooting at him. Bruce returned fire, prompting the group of males to leave the area in their vehicle.
The injured woman was described as a bystander who received a gunshot wound to the back. She was transported to the hospital via private vehicle.
Bruce admitted to detectives that he fired the gun and was placed under arrest at about 10:30 a.m., charged with carrying of firearm openly or concealed. Bail for Bruce was set at $50,000. Unable to post bail he was turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending his advice of rights hearing.
