A St. Croix man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder for a September 2023 shooting, the V.I. Police Department reported Friday.
On Sept. 10, 2023, 911 received reports of shots being fired in the vicinity of Richmond Fire Station. Upon the arrival of the responding officers, contact was made with the male victim, who stated that he was walking near the fire station when he heard a vehicle approaching from behind. He stated that as the vehicle approached him, a male suspect leaned out of the vehicle and began firing shots at him. The victim stated he was able to escape by running in the opposite direction, according to the police report.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau was called to investigate the incident. It was discovered that Darnley Petersen was the individual who fired shots at the victim from the passenger seat of the vehicle, which was being operated by Malyki Lockhart. Based on the findings of the investigation, CIB secured a warrant for Petersen’s arrest for attempted murder in the first degree, the police report stated.
On Thursday, Petersen, 23, was picked up from the Bureau of Corrections, where he currently resides, due to a previous charge and was charged and booked for attempted murder, assault in the first degree, assault in the third degree, unauthorized possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of ammunition, reckless endangerment first, and discharging or aiming a firearm. Petersen’s bail was set in the amount of $1,000,000 and he was transported back to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing, the report stated.
