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Gunshots reportedly heard in Road Town & East End last night

-Just in: Reports of gunshots heard in Sea Cows Bay in area of Ellis Thomas Downs
March 2nd, 2018 | Tags: gunshots reports rapid gunfire gun crime RVIPF
Gunshots were reportedly heard in the area of Road Town last night, March 1, 2018. Photo: VINO
CCTV Cameras across the Territory have not been restored since hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. Photo: VINO
CCTV Cameras across the Territory have not been restored since hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Reports reaching our newsroom last night March 1, 2018 indicate that between 9:30 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. numerous rapid gunfire erupted around Road Town, the capital city; however, there have been no reports of injuries.

Meanwhile, in other reports, residents on the Eastern End of Tortola also reported to have heard gunshots early this morning, around 1:30 A.M. March 2, 2018. There have also been no reports of injuries or anyone needing medical attention.

The public is on edge following a spate of gun crimes that have rocked the tiny British Overseas Territory of the Virgin Islands (VI) with less than 30,000 residents.

But, according to senior police sources, there have been no reports made to police about gunshots in Road Town or East End.

Are they serious about crime fighting?

The Police Commissioner, the Government and the National Security Council have thus far failed to bring crime under control and police have blamed residents for not coming forward and reporting on perpetrators.

The confidential hotline for crime tips located in Florida, USA is no long operational over some 6 months plus, and it is unclear when it will be restored as there remains a mistrust of the local police, according to most residents.

In addition, there is not one police CCTV camera in operation some 6 months, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria that destroyed much of police infrastructure, on any of the islands. However, the current National Democratic Party (NDP) regime, who has been in power for the past 7 years, has refused to adequately fund the police for their crime fighting measures.

This had led a former Governor, John S. Duncan OBE, to impose direct rule on the VI last year.

Under public and social pressure, the Smith Administration has now committed $5M to the police; however, the money is yet to be made available.

Gunshots heard in SCB

According to reports just reaching our newsroom, police were called moments ago Friday March 2, 2018 to the area of Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay after reports of gunfire.

Details are sketchy; however, we will be sure to keep readers updated.

25 Responses to “Gunshots reportedly heard in Road Town & East End last night”

  • streets (02/03/2018, 09:12) Like (7) Dislike (12) Reply
    Come on it was just archer celebrating his new DG work
  • wize up (02/03/2018, 09:25) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    all the tax payers money which is used to fund these visitor experience projects will not mean a dam thing because with this escalating crime rate the territory will soon be blacklisted: our leadership will quicker spend our tax money to ensure the visitors have a breathtaking experience while in the BVI however not the same urgency is given to developing the standard of live for those who make this territory their home!!!!
  • D7 (02/03/2018, 09:38) Like (36) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yall try keep out of East End/ Long Look with yall drama. Please and thanks.
    • @D7 (02/03/2018, 16:17) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
      Since 2000 there have been at least
      15 murders in the East End district..5 of these murders have been solved. Persons have been convicted and are currently serving prison terms. Persons have been arrested and charged for another two. I cannot say anything about the 8 others. The truth is East End is a very violent place.
      • D7 (03/03/2018, 05:18) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
        Says someone who isn’t from East End. Girl MOVE! I know I can walk down the streets without looking behind my back. I know that much.
      • Extra Lesson (03/03/2018, 09:39) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ @D7 You do know 5+8 is 13 right? Learn to add before you give us stats and facts. East End is not a a very violent place. Pick up the dictionary so you can use words properly. How much more violent is East End than Baughers Bay, Ghetto, Huntums Ghut, Lower Estate, Purcell, Long Bush, Carrot Bay, Bellevue and Sea Cow's Bay? People in and from these areas sell drugs, rob, shoot and kill too. So what fart you talking?
        • @Extra lesson (03/03/2018, 20:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Ok i will take your advice i will go buy a dictionary and the figures did not add up. One thing you cannot changed though there have been 15 murders in east end since 2000 and thats not a fart.
  • test (02/03/2018, 10:01) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Watch out that sound like they testing
    • Yep (02/03/2018, 13:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I to believe that cause if you heard shots but no reports of anybody being shot at, most likely someone was making sure their thing working.
      • tellin yuh (02/03/2018, 16:08) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        better them do da than wait on police...... u see wa waiting on police get the 3 youths earlier in the month
  • pat (02/03/2018, 10:09) Like (5) Dislike (12) Reply
    Every time a bird fly these Crazy people say it's gun shoots
  • wondering (02/03/2018, 10:49) Like (34) Dislike (1) Reply
    When are people going to wakeup and report those shooting guns? How many more deaths are coming? Why are we so accustomed to hearing gun shots in the night? And wait for the sirens, which often never come? Well, well now they are shooting guns in the morning, why not? Because no one is going to turn them in. NO ONE.
    Lawlessness is not new to the BVI. Fortunes were built on smuggling, one thing or the other. Sins of the parents visited on the 4 and 5 generations. Silence was always the way to family wealth. Nothing new under the sun.
    • Amen (02/03/2018, 11:07) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ wondering

      Truth be told Your last two sentences SOOO true but remember also
      The nation that forgets God ------------

      I cry for my B V I
    • Rise Up (02/03/2018, 11:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      But now they're killing people. That's "new under the sun" here, isn't it?
  • HMMM (02/03/2018, 12:00) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    It wasn't no gun shot east. It have a damn bum always pounding down in unfinished building with 2 by 4's and them kind of stupidness. The man was blowing a conch shell like every 5 set of noise. These people hotting up the place buh for this year i think them need skip east with this nonsense
    • ok den (02/03/2018, 15:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      it was wood and that's not the first or second time
    • Jay (02/03/2018, 17:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      That makes a lot of sense now. I was wondering who fires a gun for half an hour straight while blowing on a shell in between shots at 1 in the morning.
      only in EE buddy!
  • big time (02/03/2018, 13:57) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Someone IS trying to make the East Side look bad and put under the spotlight. I agrée, stay out of the East Side with the drama.
  • Inflicting (02/03/2018, 15:30) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just THUGS trying to put fear into people . they are having their laughs at us .
  • Ironically (02/03/2018, 15:37) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Police patrol the east alot , and its quiet peaceful in the east .
  • East End/Long Look (02/03/2018, 16:02) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    You outsiders stop trying to black list our community. The ratchetness is coming from outsiders.
  • madam (02/03/2018, 19:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ting going start soon
  • pete (02/03/2018, 20:04) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, also stop lying on Josiah’s Bay, I sleep peacefully with no fighting, gunshots or dogs barking like people would try to have you believe. Like I said, the only dogs are neighbors and they don’t bark all night and day. Keep off of East End like they said.
  • east (02/03/2018, 20:29) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Persons from east are trying very hard to keep their community peaceful , they are also very united and religious .


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