St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney, Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that members of the Virgin Islands Police Department Crime Prevention Bureau, the U.S. Virgin Islands Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, and Community leaders, together with representatives from the neighborhood, will be meeting at Oswald Harris Court on Thursday, March 24th at 4:00 p.m. to walk the neighborhood and hear concerns from community residents.
U.S. Attorney Shappert noted that the Oswald Harris Court community has experienced tragic violence and death in the past several years. “On September 13th of 2020, residents of the Oswald Harris Court community heard gunshots in the vicinity of the basketball court. Moments later, 31-year-old Secori Akeel Elmes was found dead. His tragic death was one of several homicides for that year within the U.S. Virgin Islands,” Shappert said. “Recently, on February 16th, law enforcement officers responded on a report of a large fight and of shots being fired. During which, a 26-year-old man was stabbed in the neck. These senseless acts of violence profoundly impact our community,” said Shappert.
For more information about the Oswald Harris Court walk, please contact 340-244-6539.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to reduce gun crime in America through strategic partnerships between federal, local, and community stakeholders. PSN targets gun crime and gun-related violence, while supporting violence reduction strategies and the coordination of community-based partnerships. The goal is to create safer neighborhoods by reducing gun violence and fostering public safety.