Police arrested Hector Castano Estrella Jr. on Thursday and charged him with illegal discharge of a firearm.
According to the V.I. Police Department, officers were dispatched regarding a report of shots being fired in the area of Altona and Welgunst in the vicinity of Discount Water. In the vicinity of 178-88 Altona and Welgunst, the officers discovered several shell casings.
During an inspection of the area officers discovered a parked, gray Toyota Highlander. The officers found two firearms – an AK47 rifle and 9 mm Glock pistol – each containing loaded magazines on the floor of the front passenger seat and a magazine on the front passenger seat in plain view.
The police report says Estrella, the operator of the vehicle, waived his Miranda rights and admitted to being involved in a shootout. He also admitted to being in possession of the firearms found in the vehicle.
Estrella was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm. Bail was set at $25,000 and, unable to post bail, he was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advice of rights hearing.
Police urged anyone with information about the crime to contact the VIPD at 340-774-2211, theCriminal Investigation Bureau at 340-714-9807, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.