May 22, 2008 — Police arrested four people Thursday in connection with Wednesday morning's brazen armed invasion of Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and murder of a patient, Acting Police Commissioner Novelle Francis said. (See "Government Offers $10,000 Reward in Hospital Shooting Case").
Five armed, masked men entered Luis Hospital from the rear sometime between 3:15 and 3:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, tied up a guard, threatened maintenance workers, and then made their way to Shadrach Frett's third-floor hospital room where they shot him multiple times, according to police. Frett was nursing wounds from another shootout last week in Catherine's Rest. A second person wounded at that shootout had already been treated and released.
Francis said the four were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Additional charges are expected to be filed, police spokeswoman Melody Rames said. The four will be detained at a federal prison in Puerto Rico.
Arrested at two undisclosed locations on St. Croix were Nathaniel Thomas, 21; Armand Thomas, 25; Andrea Soto, 20; and Okimo Milligan, 21.
The four all listed their address as No. 6-6 Catherine’s Rest. Francis said authorities recovered an assault rifle and a .40 caliber handgun. Informed sources in the community have said one of the four was the second person injured at the Catherine's Rest shootout.
Government House issued a statement about the arrests, giving additional details of what transpired.
“Officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department, working with agents of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, US Marshals and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force launched an aggressive law enforcement initiative yesterday," Gov. John deJongh Jr. said. Tips from the community and police intelligence both played an important role, he said.
Authorities are looking into possible connections between these individuals and Wednesday’s shooting at the JFL Hospital, Attorney General Vincent Frazer said in the Government House release.
“We are looking at all possibilities and will continue to follow all leads received in this case," he said. "This is an ongoing investigation which we believe extends beyond the shores of the Virgin Islands. I encourage any persons with information to come forward and contact police immediately.”
If anyone has information regarding this case, you can call the police hotline at 778-4950, or 777-8711 or call 911.
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