Man charged after half-naked theft and death threats at St. Thomas gas station

A 65-year-old St. Croix resident has been charged with four misdemeanour offences after he entered a St. Thomas gas station partially clothed, took groceries without paying, and threatened to kill staff members, police said.

Enox Duncan, also known as Enoch Charles Duncan, was arrested on October 9 around 2:43 p.m. at Gottlieb's Quickway Gas Station after officers found him being held by the store's security guard, Thomas Attidore. Duncan wore only a green sweater and no other clothing, and carried a cream-coloured purse and a green plastic bag holding a gallon of whole milk valued at $6.00 and a bottle of Tropicana orange juice valued at $6.95, according to court documents.

Attidore told police he stepped in after hearing Duncan shout profanities at the cashier, who had reported that Duncan was taking items from shelves without paying. When Attidore pursued him outside, a bystander offered to pay for the goods if Duncan would allow them to be rung up. Attidore made the same offer. Duncan rejected both proposals, refused to leave, and Attidore held him until police arrived.

When officers questioned Duncan, he said he did not recall what had occurred, spoke in an unfamiliar language, and would not answer questions. Gas station owner Mark Gottlieb initially declined to pursue charges, asking only that Duncan be warned to stay away.

The situation changed when an officer delivered that warning. Duncan then made violent threats, stating "They can't stop me from going deh, I going bam bam bam; I going kill them, ok Officer, you understand?" and "They can't stop me from going in deh, I am am, I am going to kill dem, bam bam bam, I going shot dem!" while making shooting hand gestures and looking directly at Gottlieb and Attidore, according to court filings. Gottlieb then requested full criminal prosecution.

During booking, officers noted Duncan wore a hospital identification wristband with his correct name. He nonetheless provided police with a false name, false birth date, and a made-up Social Security number, leading them to initially record him as "John Doe."

Duncan was charged with petit larceny, disturbance of the peace by threats, interfering with an officer discharging duties, and vagrancy. During a remote Advice of Rights hearing before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Simone VanHolten-Turnbull on Saturday morning, Duncan became angry and argued with Bureau of Corrections officers. After he refused repeated orders to comply, the judge halted the hearing and rescheduled it for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Magistrate Courtroom MG-2.