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St. Croix Man Arrested Following Alleged Firearm Incident and Dispute Over Relationship

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Image of Daniel Hernandez provided by the Virgin Islands Police Department.

ST. CROIX — Daniel Hernandez faces serious felony charges following an incident where he allegedly fired a weapon during a confrontation that stemmed from a romantic dispute.

Late in the evening on April 13, just before 10:30 p.m., a distress call was made to 911 by a man reporting gunfire at his home in Frederiksted. He claimed that Daniel Hernandez, whom he identified as his girlfriend’s husband, arrived at his Estate Carlton residence, leading to a physical altercation. The caller reported that after he and his girlfriend retreated inside, Hernandez fired a shot through the glass door and reached in to unlock it, subsequently forcing his wife to leave with him under threat of violence.

According to the caller, Hernandez and his wife left the scene in his vehicle. The woman contacted 911 from a hotel several hours later to report her whereabouts. Upon arriving at the hotel, officers detained Hernandez without incident and discovered ammunition in his vehicle.

During the investigation, the woman provided a different perspective, indicating she was picked up by Hernandez after work, had dinner, and then went to a hotel to make a reservation. She recounted that she went to her boyfriend’s residence to avoid her husband seeing her there, but Hernandez unexpectedly showed up, leading to the altercation.

The woman expressed her intention to not remain with her boyfriend, describing ongoing harassment and assaults from him. She returned to the apartment to preempt further conflicts, which escalated when both men confronted each other.

Police found physical evidence of the shooting at the boyfriend’s home, including a bullet hole through a door. Hernandez, however, denied possessing or firing a gun. Despite his denial and lack of a gun license, the visible injuries to all parties and the forensic evidence led to his arrest on multiple charges, including home invasion, burglary, illegal possession of a firearm, assault, property destruction, and disturbing the peace.

After appearing in court before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross, Hernandez’s initial charges were adjusted following a motion from the prosecution to amend the complaint, which was unopposed by the defense. The judge set bail at $100,000, with a portion paid in cash and the remainder secured through a bond.

Daniel Hernandez is slated to return to court on May 1 for further proceedings in this complex case.

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Crime

Former VIPD Officer Arrested After Confrontation at St. Croix Event

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ST. CROIX — Walton Jack, a security consultant and former Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officer, was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges following a heated altercation with police at a local event. The incident occurred during the Taste of St. Croix at the Divi Carina Bay Casino & Resort on the evening of April 18.

Court documents reveal that the confrontation began when Jack requested assistance from on-duty officers to relocate some barricades for his security team. After the officers declined, citing that the task was outside their scope of responsibilities, Jack became visibly agitated. Witnesses described him as using profane language, threatening the officers’ employment, and exhibiting signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, glassy eyes, and an unsteady gait.

The situation escalated when one officer attempted to calm Jack by touching his arm, which led Jack to attempt a punch. He missed and subsequently lost his balance, falling to the ground. Officers quickly subdued him and, following medical attention for a head laceration, transported him to the Wilbur H. Francis command police station for booking.

Despite refusing to give a statement, Jack was charged with simple assault. Initially held on $5,000 bail, he appeared in court on April 19, where Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross reduced his bail to a $500 unsecured bond. His trial is set for May 8.

This is not Jack’s first encounter with the law; he was arrested last May for negligent driving and driving under the influence, charges that are still pending in court.

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Crime

Critical Injury Results from Nightclub Shooting in St. Croix

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A late-night shooting at the Frontline Nightclub in Colquohoun, St. Croix, has left one man in a critical condition, the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) reported. The altercation, which took place Saturday night, has prompted an intensive investigation by the VIPD’s Major Crimes Unit.

Responding swiftly to calls about gunfire at the establishment, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau were on scene to find a dispute among several individuals had intensified, leading to the shooting. The victim, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was subsequently transported to Juan F. Luis Hospital via private vehicle.

Forensic experts at the scene collected various shell casings, evidencing the use of multiple firearms during the incident. A shotgun belonging to the victim was also confiscated and is being held as part of the investigation.

Hospital authorities at Juan F. Luis confirmed the victim’s severe injuries and arranged for his airlift to another facility on Sunday morning for advanced care. His condition is still listed as critical. As the investigation unfolds, police are piecing together the circumstances of the shooting.

The VIPD is calling on the public to provide any information that could aid their ongoing investigation. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers USVI.

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Crime

Man Faces Charges After Machete Attack on Mother’s Boyfriend

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In a shocking incident on St. Croix, Xavier Smith has been charged with assault and mayhem following a violent confrontation involving a machete, which resulted in his mother’s boyfriend being airlifted for urgent medical care.

The Virgin Islands Police Department responded to an emergency call early Wednesday morning from the Juan F. Luis Hospital, reporting a man severely wounded and bleeding heavily. Upon arrival, officers learned that the altercation stemmed from a domestic dispute concerning the custody of a minor child.

The victim, who was seeking to end his relationship and retrieve personal belongings, described a heated exchange with his girlfriend that escalated when he attempted to leave the premises. It was then that Smith, armed with a machete, allegedly attacked the man, inflicting a deep cut to his left triceps. The injured man managed to escape and was transported by a friend to the hospital.

During his emergency treatment, doctors determined that the victim required surgery before being sent to the mainland for advanced medical care, underscoring the severity of his injuries.

When questioned by police, Smith recounted a different version of events. He claimed to have heard threats against his family and witnessed his mother being shoved against a wall, prompting him to retrieve a machete and confront the victim, whom he also believed to be armed.

Following the incident, Smith was arrested and faces charges of mayhem, third-degree assault, and illegal possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was unable to post the $7,500 bail and remains in custody, awaiting further court proceedings. As of now, his hearing is still pending, according to the latest updates from the court docket.

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