3 arrested in Festival shootout
Published: January 2, 2013
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Police on St. Croix arrested three men, one of whom had a gunshot wound in his leg, in connection with a shootout at the back of the Frederiksted Festival Village on Monday night.
A woman bystander also was wounded by a gunshot in the leg, and a number of vehicles parked in the area were damaged by gunfire, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the V.I. Police Department.
Julian Vera Jr., 20, of Estate Strawberry, Adrian Gerard, 23, of JFK housing community, and Adowa Fleming, 20, of Estate Catherine's Rest, were arrested. Vera, who had a gunshot wound to his leg, was treated at Luis hospital and released into the custody of police. Police arrested the three men about 5:30 a.m. and charged each of them with third-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Each man was placed on $25,000 bail and remanded into custody.
The three suspects exchanged gunfire with several other persons, for whom detectives currently are searching, according to police. Detectives said they have information indicating that the shooting was in retaliation for a previous altercation between the two groups, police said.
Officers already on the scene answered a 911 call of shots fired about 2 a.m., according to police.
Witnesses told police the suspects fled in a red car, and a detective who spotted a car fitting the description heading east on Melvin Evans Highway, alerted 911 and gave chase, according to the Police Department statement.
Officers converged on the car and its three occupants near Estate Profit and saw several items being tossed from the vehicle before it evaded capture, police said. The car eventually was stopped on the highway near Estate Hope, according to police.
Officers also recovered two semi-automatic weapons in the area where items were thrown from the car, police said.
Vera, Gerard and Fleming are scheduled to be advised of their rights today.
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