Some of the firearms confiscated by the [US] Virgin Islands Police Department. Photo: VIC

The chief’s comments, made during a brief press conference held at the V.I.P.D.’s Mars Hill headquarters in Frederiksted, St Croix, US Virgin Islands on Tuesday afternoon, followed an incident that occurred at the Chris Hideaway Nightclub near Five Corners at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday July 3, 2016 where a victim was attacked and beaten by twelve individuals, who then exited the nightclub and fired shots into the air after assaulting the victim.

Mr. McFarlande said police were alerted of the incident and immediately mobilised to search for four vehicles that were described to them. During the investigation, the vehicles were found in the parking lot of Sharky’s Bar and Restaurant in Gallows Bay.

The chief said the suspects were so brazen with their behaviour that even after firing shots into the air and knowing that police would be called, they did not go to their homes; they chose instead to head to another facility where innocent residents gather — with the illegal firearms.

“We found the vehicles, identified the vehicles. None of the individuals came to identify the vehicles, [but] through investigation and good police work, we were able to retrieve eight firearms from three different vehicles,” Mr. McFarlande said.

Newly appointed chief of police for the St. Croix district, Mr. McFarlande appeared pointed in his resolve to crush crime on this island; a desire he has shared in the past.

“I want to send a very clear message first to the community; to let the community know that your police department is actively involved in fighting and bringing some semblance of calm to your community. At the end of the day we all live here, this is our paradise and the police department is doing everything in its power to make sure that this community remains safe.

“And to the handful of individuals out there that insist on trying to terrorize this community, we know who you are. The police department is on the offense. That means we know who you are; we are coming to get you. We will no longer stand idly by and let you terrorize this community,” Mr. McFarlande said.

The chief said at least two of the four vehicles have been impounded by the force, and an investigation — including weapons test for evidence and to determine whether said weapons were involved in other criminal acts — is underway.