AG Rhea Vows Aggressive Prosecution as DOJ Rolls Out New Strategy Against Gun Violence
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Department says it will pursue maximum penalties for firearms offenses amid a spike in shootings across the territory.
Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea says his office is taking a harder line against firearms crimes, announcing this week that the Virgin Islands Department of Justice will push for the toughest penalties available under the law as the territory grapples with a spike in gun violence.
Rhea framed the announcement as a direct warning to anyone considering using a firearm in the commission of a crime, saying the recent wave of violence has left families devastated and communities on edge. He said prosecutors would pursue firearms cases aggressively at every stage of the legal process, not just seek stronger laws on the books.
“We will not tolerate individuals who terrorize our communities with illegal firearms,” Rhea said. “We will take a tough stand in court, vigorously prosecute these cases, and hold violent offenders fully accountable.”
The announcement comes on the heels of the newly enacted 2026 Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety Act, which Rhea described as a turning point for firearms regulation in the territory. The law was shaped jointly by the DOJ, the Governor’s office, the V.I. Police Department, and members of the 36th Legislature, and was sponsored by Senator Clifford Joseph. Among its changes, the act sets clearer licensing rules for firearms, suppressors, silencers, and large-capacity magazines, mandates safety training for licensed rifle and shotgun owners, and tightens restrictions on illegal sales of guns, gun parts, and ammunition.
Rhea said getting the legislation passed was only half the job — enforcing it is what comes next, and he made clear his office intends to match the new law with equally serious prosecution of violators.
The Attorney General also praised Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s recent executive order temporarily reassigning peace officers from other executive branch agencies to support the V.I. Police Department during the current surge in violent crime, describing it as a necessary step at a critical moment. He characterized the fight against gun violence as one that depends on cooperation between police, prosecutors, elected officials, and the public.
Rhea’s statement also echoed a recent appeal from V.I. Police Department leadership and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, who have urged residents with information about recent shootings to come forward.
“Our prosecutors can only bring cases built on evidence,” Rhea said. “If you know who is responsible for these violent crimes, I urge you to come forward. Your information could save lives and help bring justice to victims and their families.”
Rhea closed by acknowledging that curbing gun violence will take sustained effort across the community, but pledged that his department would keep pursuing every legal option available to take violent offenders off the streets. Residents, he said, deserve to live without fear, and those who choose violence should not expect the department to relent.