VIPD officers cordone off the road separating Peter's Rest from Castle Coakley, following a shooting incident that occurred at about 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
Last updated at 6:41 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022
The V.I. Police Department has confirmed to the Consortium that it is offering $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for killing 46-year-old Stacie Schjang, who was in her home on January 27 getting ready for work when a stray bullet from a shooting on the road that separates Peter's Rest from Castle Coakley, just south of the El Sol Bar and Restaurant, struck her in the upper body.
The V.I.P.D. is also offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator or perpetrators who shot and killed two 17-year-old minors on January 18.
If you have information, call the V.I.P.D Crime TipLine at (340) 778-4950.
Separately, Crime Stoppers USVI is offering up to $25,000 for solid information that leads to the arrest of perpetrators in the Schjang matter. You may submit an anonymous and secure tip here, or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
The $25,000 offering comes on the heels of the Schjang shooting that rocked the St. Croix community, with notable individuals sharing their grief caused by the incident along with fond memories they experienced with Ms. Schjang.
V.I.P.D. Commissioner Ray Martinez took a tough stance on violent crime during a Thursday press briefing, vowing an aggressive approach to policing in wake of the incidents. "So I'll tell you what, I've got a whole different mindset right now, and the mindset is that of shaking things up. So here's what's going to happen. This is a message not to our citizens who do the right thing. It's a very simple message to the guys and girls out here who choose to be on the wrong side of the law. We are coming to get you," he said. "We are going to start kicking in more doors, we're going to start stopping more vehicles. The tints, the smallest of incidents, we are coming for you. Because it's quite clear to me at least that that's where we start. These individuals that we've had on our watch list, yes, we're going to increase what we do."
St. Croix Police Chief Sean Santos, visibly angered by the incident, echoed the commissioner's stance. "I get my marching orders from the commissioner, so we're going to go out there and do what we have to do. You have tinted windshields, you're getting stopped. You're either going to get ticketed or your car is going to get towed. You're driving around here on these ATVs, we're taking it. There's no more. The broken windows theory, we're going to come back with it," the chief said.
The broken windows theory is a criminological theory that states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including serious crimes, according to a description of the theory.
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