Two Arrested in Downtown Shut Down Shooting that left Two Injured

Two St. Croix men who were wanted in a December 2023 shooting are now in custody, the V.I. Police Department reported.

On Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, at approximately 4:03 a.m., 911 received information of several gunshots being fired in Christiansted in the vicinity of the Christian Hendricks Vegetable Market while hundreds of individuals were attending the Christiansted Downtown Shut Down event, according to the police report.

Two individuals were shot and transported to Juan F. Luis Hospital in private vehicles for medical treatment. The gunshot victims both received serious injuries that required lifesaving surgical intervention, the police report stated.

During the investigation of this matter, detectives were able to obtain footage that showed
when two individuals opened fire during the Downtown Shut Down event, where many
people were in the vicinity of the Christian “Shan” Hendricks Vegetable Market and patrons
walking along Queen Street, the report stated.

As a result of the investigation, warrants were sought and obtained for Daniel Manuel Ramos Jr., 23, and Ishmael Jean Christian Jr., 24, for the crimes of attempted murder, assault first, assault third, carrying of firearms openly or concealed, unauthorized
possession of ammunition and reckless endangerment first degree, it said.

On March 22, both men were arrested at their respective homes without incident, and their bail was set at $1,000,000. Both men were advised of their rights on March 25 and held pending a release hearing on March 27. Both men’s releases were declined pending a suitable third-party custodian, police said.