Bryan called for tips in unsolved homicides during Aug. 3 briefing

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. used his weekly COVID-19 briefing on Aug. 3 to urge residents to provide information about recent homicides and other gun violence cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bryan said the territory had recorded eight coronavirus deaths since March, compared with nearly three times as many deaths from gun violence over the same period. He said police efforts depended on cooperation from the community.

He cited a $15,000 reward for information leading to arrests in the Hospital Ground shootings in April and a $60,000 reward for information in the killings of Aaron and Rique Ashby in Tutu Valley in July. Residents were told they could report crimes through 911 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers USVI tip line.

During the briefing, Bryan also asked residents to support several measures pending before the 33rd Legislature, including a Fire-EMS merger, a behavioral health act, a mass gatherings act, a white-collar crime unit, trusts legislation and a free-trade zone proposal.

Government House said the territory was distributing $7.76 million in CARES Act stimulus payments to 6,473 Social Security recipients. It said the administration had issued 41,356 stimulus checks totaling $64.17 million.

Government House reported 77 active COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 3, with 439 positive tests, 354 recoveries and eight deaths. It said four COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix and three were hospitalized at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-urges-community-to-come-forward-with-information-about-recent-homicides/