Christiansted, St. Croix – On August 31, 2022, 25-year-old Ricardo Richards was taken into custody by the CIB Detectives. Richards is wanted in connection with the Castle Coakley Murder of two minors on January 17, 2022.

Ricardo Richards

Chief Detective, Lt. Joseph stated that “This case stems from the January 17, 2022, murders of Odonnie Heywood and Jah’ny Ledesma, both 17-years-old, who were shot multiple times while driving through Old Castle Coakley. They were stopped and approached by Cornelius and Richards who were both heavily armed, Cornelius with a handgun and Richards with a high-powered rifle.”

Chief Detective, Lt Joseph further stated, “There were also similarly armed individuals on top of the two-story building in the area, and they all opened fire on the vehicle containing two minors and the adult driver. We collected over two hundred spent casings from the crime scene and the majority was from a high-powered rifle. Mr. Richards also sought medical attention for a gunshot wound that night, however claimed that he was shot at Thomas’s Bakery in Old Castle Coakley. The minors died instantly, and the adult survived from the multiple gunshot wounds that he sustained."

The warrant was signed by the Honorable Magistrate Earnest Morris of the Virgin Islands, Superior Court. Richards is charged with Murder in the 1st Degree, Attempted Murder 1st, Assault 1st, Carrying or Using a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of a Crime of Violence and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm.

Mr. Richards was unable to post the $2.5 million bail and was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advised of right hearing.

Anyone with information about these Homicides, please call the CIB Tip-line (340) 778-4850, (340) 712-6092, Crime Stoppers VI at 1 (800) 222-TIPS or 911.

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All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this press release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.