Man with gun rap as student now faces attempted murder charge

Brandon Benjamin, a Belle Vue resident who police said they found in possession of a firearm while still a high school student in 2023, has now been charged in a separate incident for attempted murder.

According to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) February 12 arrest blotter, Benjamin was not only charged with attempted murder, but also with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offense and unlawful possession of explosives.

These charges stem from an incident in November 2024, when police received reports of a gunman on a motor scooter opening fire on two males in the Threllfall area.

Benjamin’s latest arrest marks the second reported attempted murder case for 2025, following the recent arrest of 22-year-old Shemoi Carey of Huntums Ghut.

Carey, also known as “Fat Cat”, had been evading authorities since November 2024 when police linked him to the November 8 attempted murder of K’zhari Stoutt in Long Bush. He has since been charged with attempted murder, carrying an unlicensed firearm, and unlawful possession of explosives.

However, his alleged accomplice, 18-year-old K’Shawn Martin of Sand Box Road, remains at large.

The RVIPF recently reported a 12 percent rise in crime across the Territory, with Detective Inspector Chief Kenrick Davis voicing concerns over the increase in gun violence.