URGENT UPDATE: Police are investigating two alarming incidents that occurred on October 15, 2023, in the U.S. Virgin Islands—an assault on St. Croix and a shooting on St. Thomas that left one man hospitalized.
In the early hours of Sunday, officers on St. Croix arrested 31-year-old Chavez Ali after he allegedly assaulted and strangled a family member at their home. The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) received a distress call at approximately 5:39 a.m. from the victim, who reported that Ali had “strangled him and threatened to kill him.”
The victim was promptly transported to Luis Hospital for treatment of visible injuries and loss of consciousness. According to police, the incident unfolded the previous night around 7:30 p.m. when Ali began acting erratically and physically assaulted the victim. Officers later located Ali at his residence, where he was arrested on charges of second-degree assault (domestic violence), simple assault (domestic violence), and disturbance of the peace. He has since been remanded to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending a hearing.
Meanwhile, on St. Thomas, police are investigating a separate incident involving a gunshot victim. Officers responded to reports of a shooting in Simmonds Alley at around 10:08 p.m., where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. Emergency medical services rushed him to Schneider Regional Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact 911 or the VIPD’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211, ext. 5577 or 5578. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers VI at 1-800-222-8477.
The VIPD stated its commitment to community safety and appreciates public assistance in solving these urgent cases. Stay tuned for updates on these developing situations as police continue their investigations.