ST. CROIX — A St. Croix man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts first-degree assault. 

Miguel Marrero, 52, entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III, and now faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison.

According to court documents, the charges stem from a violent altercation on July 4, 2024, at the Candido Guadalupe Terrace housing community in St. Croix. The incident began when Marrero’s minor son became involved in a physical altercation with a minor female who also lived in the community. The dispute escalated when the girl’s mother intervened to separate the minors and confronted Marrero, who had been watching the fight unfold.

During the confrontation, the woman allegedly struck Marrero in the face before attempting to leave the area. As she walked away, Marrero shot her in the back. He then fired at the minor female, hitting her in the leg and ankle as she tried to flee. The mother sustained significant injuries from the gunshot wound and was later airlifted off-island for medical treatment.

Marrero is a convicted felon, having been found guilty in 2000 in federal court of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. His past conviction prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm, making his latest offenses even more severe.

Marrero’s sentencing will be determined by a federal district judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelinesand other statutory factors before issuing a final sentence.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.

Marrero’s case falls under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime by fostering collaboration between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and community leaders. The initiative focuses on identifying key violent crime issues in communities and implementing comprehensive strategies to combat them.