THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT 
                                     “To Protect and Serve” 
       Office of the Commissioner 
 
VIPD NEWS RELEASE - 120123-368 
For Immediate Media Distribution 
 
December 1, 2023 
 
SOB Traffic Stop Yields Arrest of Woman Found in  
Possession of an Illegal Firearm on St. Croix 
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – On Thursday, November 30, 2023, at approximately 
5:36 p.m., the Special Operations Bureau (SOB) Officers were on patrol in the Golden 
Rock area when a black Acura TLX was observed being operated without a license 
plate affixed to the front bumper. While conducting a traffic stop, the Officer observed 
what appeared to be the butt of a handgun under the driver’s seat on the floorboard. 
The driver was instructed to step out the vehicle and a search of the vehicle was 
conducted. A tan in color 9mm handgun with an extended 22 rounds magazine was 
recovered from under the driver’s seat. The weapon recovered was a “Ghost Gun” 
with an automatic switch attached to it. 
Ms. Shabukah Bannis, age 27, was subsequently placed under arrest for Carrying of a 
Firearm Openly or Concealed and Possession or Sale of Ammunition. Her bail was set 
at $50,000 and she was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections. 
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