Man Involved In 2015 Boardwalk Gun Battle That Left Five Shot And One Dead Arrested

ST. CROIX — A young man who police allege was involved in a May 16, 2015 gunfight that left five people injured by gunfire and one man dead, was arrested at 6:34 a.m. today and charged with multiple criminal counts, VIPD Public Information Officer Kevin Jackson announced this afternoon. The operation was carried out by members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Special Operations Bureau.

According to Mr. Jackson, Anthony White, 24, of Mon Bijou was arrested and charged with possession of an unauthorized firearm, possession of ammunition, carrying or using a dangerous weapon, failure to report a firearm obtained outside or brought into the Virgin Islands and first degree attempted reckless endangerment.

On May 16 of last year, a gunfight broke out on the Christiansted boardwalk at about 2:30 a.m., leaving one Mon Bijou man dead and four others, including one female, wounded.

At the time, Mr. Jackson said the 911 emergency call center received multiple notifications for several ambulances to assist gunshot victims. Officers were also summoned to the crime scene near Cruzan Scooters and International Charters Kindred Spirit — across from Rum Runners.

The Consortium had visited the location of the incident and noticed multiple gunshot holes lodged in the boardwalk’s floor, some of which still had blood, indicating that the victim had seemingly stumbled onto the ground and sustained several shots while lying in the vulnerable position.

Upon arrival on the scene, officers met the deceased, who was identified by police as Blaine Gerard, 26, lying lifeless on the cold floor in the wee hours of the morning.

Rushing to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, officers encountered the additional shooting victims involved in the incident. According to Mr. Jackson, preliminary reports indicated that the victims may have been shooting at each other.

They were identified by the VIPD as Anthony White, 22, Tamiesha Roebuck, 32, and Alberto Lawrence, 26, from Mon Bijou, according to police. Joshua Hernandez, 20, from the John F. Kennedy Housing Community, was also at JFL being treated.

The driver’s side windshield of an S-10 Chevrolet truck situated near Cruzan Scooters was shattered by gunfire, and the owner, along with a forensic detective, could be seen attempting to locate the bullet’s remains.

Police were actively investigating the case, which may have lead to today’s arrest of White, who was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections after failing to make bail of $25,000.