'We're Going to Turn These Streets Up, Cut These Punks Off at the Knees,' Police Commissioner Vows Following Shooting Death of Innocent Woman

ST. CROIX — V.I. Police Commissioner Ray Martinez was forceful in his vow to take on criminals who have disrupted and ended the lives of residents, the latest being a 46-year-old woman who was preparing to head out to her job when she was struck and killed by a stray bullet while in her bedroom by a window. In stark contrast to his predecessors, Mr. Martinez, speaking during a V.I.P.D. press briefing to address the death of Stacie Schjang, took responsibility for what he said was the department's failure to protect the community. He then committed to do better, and spoke directly to Virgin Islanders as if he were one-on-one with residents. The commissioner called perpetrators of crimes punks, said the V.I.P.D. would "turn up these streets up," including the turfs, and further asserted that it was high time that criminals were cut down at the knees.  "This morning at approximately 8:10 a.m., a young lady lost her life. An innocent young lady lost her life when a stray bullet entered h...