V.I.P.D. officers investigate the scene of a homicide at the Green Cay Beach on St. Croix on Fri., Feb. 4, 2022. By. ERNICE GILBERT/ V.I. CONSORTIUM
Last updated at 3:47 p.m. on Fri. Feb. 4, 2022.
ST. CROIX — A man was shot dead just before noon Friday at the Green Cay Beach on St. Croix's east end, the Consortium learned not too long after the incident occurred. The V.I.P.D. has since corroborated the information.
The 911 Emergency Call Center said it received notification of the incident when a concerned resident called at about 11:43 a.m. reporting multiple shots fired in the vicinity of the Cheeseburgers in Paradise. Officers then descended on the location, and upon investigation learned that the shooting occurred at the beach area.
The beach is accessed through the first left entrance after passing the Cheeseburgers in Paradise Restaurant heading east on the main road. A sign near the entrance reads, "Southgate Coastal Reserve". The dirt road is roughly a 120-yard walk before arriving at the beach.
The victim was shot multiple times in the upper body while in the driver's side of a gray SUV in bushes near the cul-de-sac at the beach, according to V.I.P.D. Director of Communications Glen Dratte. Emergency Medical Technicians examined the victim, a Black male, and determined that there were no vital signs. The deceased was carried out by the Medical Examiner's Office.
When the Consortium arrived on the scene, two ambulances were on location, and V.I.P.D. special investigators, including Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) personnel, were there as well. Because the matter was still active, the V.I.P.D. blocked access to the beach to allow officers to perform their duties.
The victim has been identified by next of kin as Arnold Jarvis, age 52.
V.I.P.D. officers investigate the scene of a homicide at the Green Cay Beach on St. Croix on Fri., Feb. 4, 2022. (Credit: Ernice Gilbert, VIC)
Today's homicide was the sixth in the U.S. Virgin Islands for 2022. In St. Thomas, an incident that occurred on January 19 where a police officer shot and killed a man is considered a homicide, though according to Police Commissioner Ray Martinez the V.I.P.D. believes that when the investigation is concluded it will be considered a justified homicide. The second St. Thomas homicide occurred on January 2, the day the female victim who was shot during a robbery on Dec. 4 at the Glitters Store at the Havensight Mall died. Mr. Martinez said the latter incident is considered a USVI homicide even if the victim died on the U.S. mainland, because the crime that led to her death occurred in the territory.
On St. Croix, the first incident took place on Jan. 17 where two 17-year-old minors were shot to death in Castle Coakley; and the third on Jan. 27 when a stray bullet struck and killed well-known St. Croix native Stacie Schjang at her home in Peter's Rest. Today's homicide carried the violent deaths in the territory for 2022 to six.
The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information about this incident to send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here.
