Scatliffe Alley man charged for gun possession
A 29-year-old Scatliffe Alley resident has been charged after police recovered a handgun and ammunition during a response to reports of suspected gunfire in Road Town last week.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) said officers removed another illegal firearm from circulation on Friday, May 29.
According to a police press release issued on June 4, officers who were already in the vicinity responded quickly after receiving reports of suspected gunfire in the Road Town area. During the operation, they observed a man whom they considered suspicious.
Police said the individual was detained and searched, leading to the recovery of a Glock 17 handgun fitted with an extended magazine containing 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The firearm was seized, and the suspect was taken into custody.
Charged is Shakhoy Penn of Scatliffe Alley. He faces charges of Possession of a Prohibited Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Explosives. Police said he remains in custody awaiting an appearance before the Magistrate’s Court.
The RVIPF stated that the latest seizure represents the eighth illegal firearm recovered so far in 2026. According to the force, officers recovered two firearms in January, two in March, one in April and three in May.
Police said some of those recoveries resulted in arrests and charges that were publicised previously, while others were made during proactive policing operations where no suspect was identified.
Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool praised the officers involved in the latest recovery and reiterated the force’s efforts to tackle gun crime.
“Every firearm removed from circulation represents a potential act of violence prevented. It is particularly concerning that some of these weapons qualify as prohibited weapons because they were modified to operate as automatic firing,” Vanterpool stated.
“The continued recovery of illegal weapons demonstrates the vigilance of our officers and our unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe. We encourage members of the public to continue sharing information with the police, as community support remains vital in our efforts to combat gun-related crime,” she added.
The latest seizure comes amid continued concern over gun-related incidents in the territory.
The RVIPF has urged anyone with information about illegal firearms or other criminal activity to contact its Intelligence Unit or Crime Stoppers.
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About time
What is the penalty for modifying such weapons for automatic firing?
Mr Penn what really is your problem you seems to have something mentally wrong with you, for a long time you have been doing foolishness thinking that it’s ok for gun play it’s time you learn that every action comes with an reaction prison will either change your mind set or make you worst I hope for the better your mom is a good woman and you need to do better.
That thing got a switch on it (little box on the slide) which switches it from a semiautomatic to a fully automatic weapon. In the states the switch by itself is 5yrs in prison. This place too small for them kind of problems. B.V.I better amend some laws fast and impose stiffer penalties for modified weapons. Police will be out gunned before you know it; if they aren’t already.
Get all the guns off the streets, dont wait till someone fires them.
stop cars, trucks and scooters for search, confiscate vehicle immediately for resale if a gun or ammo found, the same with illegal drugs.
there has to be consequences for crime,, Guns are illegal in BVI….