St. Thomas, USVI - On Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 12:45 a.m., a citizen called 911 and reported that a male had been shot in the area of Market Square, St. Thomas, VI. Responding police units made contact with an unresponsive male, who appeared to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Technicians were also on the scene and attempted to render life saving measures. The male was transported to Schneider Regional Medical Center via ambulance, where he succumbed to his injuries. The male was identified as Marcos Antonio Benjamin Guerrero, a native of the Dominican Republic.

Luis Manuel Mota Rivas

Investigation revealed that Luis Manuel Mota Rivas, shot Mr. Guerrero multiple times, as Mr. Guerrero sat in his vehicle, after exiting a bar and restaurant in the downtown area.

On Monday, January 16, 2023, Mr. Rivas, age 30, was arrested at 2:00 p.m. by the Major Crimes Unit without incident. He is charged with First Degree Assault, Third Degree Assault, Use of a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. No bail was set pending his Advice of Rights. The VIPD would like to thank the community for their cooperation in this investigation. It is truly a new time for the department, as we move forward with the trust of our community more cases can be solved in a timely manner. Without you we cannot connect the dots and cases will continue to go unsolved.

Anyone having any information about this incident please contact the Virgin Islands Police Department at (340) 774-2211, the Criminal Investigation Unit’s Major Crimes Division at (340) 642-8449 or Crime Stoppers V.I. at 1(800) 222-8477.

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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.