STT FATALITY: Federal Probe Launched After CBP Vessel Kills Local Boater at Carnival’s End
SPEED OVER SAFETY?: A 41-foot Coastal Interceptor Vessel, similar to the one involved in Saturday's fatal collision near Hassel Island, maneuvers at high speed. Witnesses in the St. Thomas crash allege that federal agents ignored "No Wake" buoys before striking a dinghy and killing 25-year resident Shawn Leass. (Photo: CBP Air and Marine Operations/File)
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer
ST. THOMAS — A high-stakes federal investigation is underway tonight following a fatal Saturday evening collision between a 41-foot U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Coastal Interceptor Vessel and a small dinghy near the narrow Haulover Cut.
The victim has been identified as Shawn Leass, a beloved local boater and 25-year resident of the Virgin Islands. Leass was transported to Roy Lester Schneider Hospital following the 7:30 p.m. crash but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Key Developments for the Record:
Allegations of Speed: Multiple witnesses claim the CBP vessel was traveling at a high rate of speed through the thin waterway between Hassel Island and St. Thomas, allegedly ignoring two "No Wake" buoys.
Federal Silence Broken: After days of silence, CBP and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a joint statement Wednesday morning confirming the incident occurred during a "border security patrol".
Three-Way Probe: The investigation is currently being handled by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
"Routine" Concerns: A witness on Water Island told local media that speeding through the Haulover Cut by these 41-foot federal interceptors has become "routine," raising serious questions about federal accountability in territorial restricted-speed zones.
While federal officials have stated they have no timeline for when the "reason for the collision" will be available, the St. Croix Sun is already moving to ask local authorities if similar patterns of high-speed federal maneuvers have been reported in the waters of Christiansted or Frederiksted.
The community is already pushing for answers, and with the "Gonzo" investigative spirit alive and well, we won’t be waiting for the NTSB's final report to ask the hard questions.
