UPDATE: Slain suspect in STT McDonald’s robbery was a minor- VIPD
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI — St Thomas-St John District Police Chief, Jason Marsh, said during a press briefing on Monday, March 27, 2017 that the suspect that was shot by police during the McDonald’s robbery and hostage incident on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (UVI) Saturday night, March 25, 2017 was a minor, as well as one of the two surviving suspects.
Chief Marsh said during the briefing that the deceased minor will be identified by police, as well as the surviving 18-year-old suspect. The other minor will not be identified, at least for now.
Stating that between 5-7 hostages were held up during the incident, Chief Marsh said once officers learned of the incident, law enforcement swarmed the McDonald’s restaurant, ensuring that there were no exits for the suspects to escape. He said officers from the V.I.P.D. and the Supreme and Superior courts responded to the incident while it was ongoing. Federal officers responded after, he said.
Chief Marsh also confirmed VIPD Commissioner Delroy Richard’s observation that, while yet to be confirmed, there were striking similarities between Saturday night’s incident and the robbery that occurred at the Pony Parlor last week: the three men were Hispanics, and they wielded similar weapons.
“As the commissioner said, there are similarities; we’ll have to conduct some further investigation before we can definitely say that that it’s concrete,” Chief Marsh said. “But there are some similarities in the robberies.”
On Sunday, Arcos Dorados, franchise owner of McDonald’s U.S. Virgin Islands said in a statement that the fast food restaurant would remain closed until police completed their investigation. As of Monday, Chief Marsh said police were still examining the facility for evidence. “We’re still doing some followups, so the establishment is still closed at this time,” he said.
As for charges, the Department of Justice will ultimately determine what will be levied against the suspects through an official complaint.
Not one hostage was injured
From the onset of the briefing, Chief Marsh praised law enforcement involved not only for their exceptional work and bravery, but also because not a single hostage was injured during the standoff. He also commended the hostages, noting their courage to contact law enforcement during what must have been a traumatic experience for them.
“Those hostages endured a lot through a traumatic experience, and we want to recognize them for their bravery,” he said.
The incident, which occurred just before 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night, left one suspect dead after engaging in a shootout with police, and two other suspects with minor injuries, VIPD Public Information Officer Glen Dratte announced Sunday afternoon. Police Commissioner Delroy Richards had previously told The Consortium that there were four suspects, three of which were in custody and the fourth, shot by police, had succumbed to his wounds.
Prepare to suffer the consequences
The commissioner said the deceased suspect was killed after firing at police.
“Unfortunately, when you become bold enough to become involved in criminal actions like that, you have to be prepared to suffer the consequences,” Mr. Richards said. “My guys responded and they did what they were trained to do as professionals.”
Three armed Hispanic suspects stormed the McDonald’s restaurant located in the Lockhart Gardens Shopping Center to rob the establishment, consequently holding hostage several customers who were dining, according to the VIPD.
Police were alerted of the robbery while it was ongoing, and immediately responded by hustling to the scene. Upon their arrival, police observed the suspects and surrounded the area, Mr. Richards said. An exchange of gunfire between at least one of the suspects and police officers ensued, which ultimately led to the death of the suspect. Mr. Richards said none of the customers dining at the McDonald’s restaurant were injured during the ordeal.
The two suspects who were injured sustained their wounds from shotgun pellets emanating from their own weapons — and not by guns belonging to police officers, according to the commissioner.
Saturday night’s incident was the latest in a series of robbery crimes affecting St. Thomas, with Hispanic males appearing to be the culprits, according to Mr. Richards. Last week, the Pony Parlor was robbed at gunpoint, with three assailants escaping with an untold amount of cash.
“Those three individuals that entered were described as Hispanic males,” Mr. Richards said. “The suspects for the McDonald’s robbery were carrying similar weapons that were described by the folks at the Pony Parlor, and they were also described as Hispanics, so there are some similarities.”
VIPD Media Specialist told The Consortium on Monday that the V.I.P.D. was working on making available the mugshots of two of the three men involved — the deceased and the 18-year-old.
See previous article published March 26, 2017
Suspect shot dead in USVI during hostage & robbery @ McDonald’s
An incident that occurred just before 11:00 PM on Saturday night, March 25, 2017 at a McDonald’s restaurant in Sugar Estate, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands left one suspect dead after engaging in a shootout with police, and two of three other suspects with minor injuries.
This is according to [US] Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) Commissioner Delroy Richards, who confirmed this information to The Consortium this morning, March 26, 2017.
The commissioner said the deceased suspect was killed after firing at police.
“Unfortunately, when you become bold enough to become involved in criminal actions like that, you have to be prepared to suffer the consequences,” Mr Richards said. “My guys responded and they did what they were trained to do as professionals.”
Four armed Hispanic suspects stormed the McDonald’s restaurant in Sugar Estate to rob the establishment, consequently holding hostage several customers who were dining, Mr Richards said.
Police were alerted of the robbery while it was ongoing, and immediately responded by hustling to the scene. Upon their arrival, police observed the suspects and surrounded the area, Mr Richards said. An exchange of gunfire between at least one of the suspects and police officers ensued, which ultimately led to the death of the suspect. Mr Richards said none of the customers dinning at the McDonald’s restaurant were injured during the ordeal.
The two suspects who were injured sustained their wounds from shotgun pellets emanating from their own weapons — and not by guns belonging to police officers, according to the commissioner.
Last night’s incident was the latest in a series of robbery crimes affecting St Thomas, with Hispanic males appearing to be the culprits, according to Mr Richards. Earlier this week, the Pony Parlor was robbed at gunpoint, with three assailants escaping with an untold amount of cash.
“Those three individuals that entered were described as Hispanic males,” Mr Richards said. “The suspects for the McDonald’s robbery were carrying similar weapons that were described by the folks at the Pony Parlor, and they were also described as Hispanics, so there are some similarities.”
With all three suspects in custody and a fourth deceased, Mr Richards said names will be revealed in a forthcoming VIPD press release.
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35 Responses to “UPDATE: Slain suspect in STT McDonald’s robbery was a minor- VIPD”
was he? He is still an immigration. Are you saying that he stopped doing his job?
Santo and them dirty theiving ways they walked with. They are all curse, the men to become thieves and the woman who**s. This goes way back in there generations.
We need to stop being so blindly racist and unkind to immigrants who come to our shores in search of a better life. What goes around, comes around. Our fore-fathers were blessed to find work and a home in a foeign land and now we seek to deny our own cousins and family members the same priviledge.
Stop jumping on every news article and spewing your un-informed and racist garbage. Trump isn't making America great again... it was a great nation because in the first place it was a place of sanctuary, refuge and new beginnings for all peoples (except the poor enslaved First Nations and African Slaves). But every settled generation tended to look down and ill-treat suggesive waves of immigrants.. it was the Irish, the Italians, the Puerto Ricans, the Asians, and the list goes on and on. Let's not emmulate and praise ignorance and stupidity. We are all HUMANS and as such have basic rights to the pursuit of love, life and liberty.
Stop being a part of the problem and be a part of a positive solution.
I notice that we as black people are very sympathetic and supportive to poor whites, white hispanics, arabs, asians and other minorities who don't necessarily have our welfare at heart. That is how we are.
However, while I would not stereotype the native Santos, I would not defend them either. They need to struggle and die for their own causes like we have for centuries. Only then will they appreciate positive change when it comes.