St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – On Thursday, January 1, 2026, at about 2:08 p.m., officers assigned to the Special Operations Bureau of the Virgin Islands Police Department responded to the Bovoni area near the Lima Laundromat after Central Dispatch received multiple reports of a large disturbance in progress, during which gunshots were allegedly fired into a crowd of individuals.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers conducted a preliminary investigation and obtained evidence identifying Engember Brito as the individual who discharged a firearm into a crowd of people engaged in a physical altercation. Further investigation revealed that Robert De La Rosa fled the scene in a vehicle with Brito following the incident.
A short time later, officers initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle in the Racetrack Gas Station on Rhymer Highway. Surveillance footage reviewed by officers showed Mr. Brito and Mr. De La Rosa switching driving roles while at the Racetrack Gas Station.
Both Mr. Brito and Mr. De La Rosa later provided recorded statements to the Criminal Investigation Bureau regarding the incident and denied being in possession of a firearm. However, additional evidence was obtained that corroborated Brito’s involvement in discharging a firearm into the crowd before fleeing the scene.
As a result of the investigation, both 23-year-olds, Engember Brito and Robert De La Rosa were arrested and charged with Illegal Discharge of a Firearm in addition to multiple offenses. After failing to post bond, $231,000.00 for Brito and $131,000.00 for De La Rosa, the suspects were booked, processed, and remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending their Advice of Rights hearings.
The Virgin Islands Police Department continues to stress that gun violence poses a serious threat to public safety and will be met with swift and thorough enforcement action. The VIPD thanks the community for its cooperation and urges anyone with additional information related to this incident to contact 911 or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211.
