St. Thomas, USVI - On Thursday, January 19, 2023, at approximately 10:04 p.m., 911 received a call of shots fired at Coki Point Beach, St. Thomas, USVI. Units from the Mariel C. Newton Command traveled to the scene and discovered an unresponsive male lying on the ground. The male appeared to have sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Emergency Medical Technicians traveled to Coki Point and concluded that the male did not have any vital signs. Next of kin identified the male as 59-year-old, Delroy A. Venzen. Another male, 31-years-old, sustained a gunshot wound and was transported to Roy Lester Schneider Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

Shamal Gabriel

During the investigation, detectives obtained information that Shamal Gabriel shot and killed Delroy A. Venzen on January 19, 2023, at Coki Point Beach.

On Monday, January 23, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Shamal Gabriel, age 30, turned himself in to officers at the Richard N. Callwood Command. Mr. Gabriel was charged with First Degree Murder, Murder Second, Assault First, Assault Third, Using a Dangerous Weapon During a Crime of Violence, Reckless Endangerment, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime of Violence and Unauthorized Possession of Firearm Ammunition. He was processed and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections, pending Advise of Rights Hearing.

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