On the left, the Jan. 27 scene of the Stacie Schjang homicide on the road separating Peter's Rest from Castle Coakley. Anthony Schneider is seen upper right, and Joshawn Ayala, lower right. Photo Credit: MUGSHOTS FROM THE VIPD; SCENE OF CRIME FROM V.I. CONSORTIUM.
The V.I. Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau has secured arrest warrants for two men wanted in connection with the homicide deaths of 46-year-old Stacie Schjang, which occurred on Jan. 27, and Arnold Jarvis, age 52, who was killed on Feb. 4 at the Green Cay Beach on St. Croix's east end, the department announced via release Friday night.
According to V.I.P.D. Director of Communications Glen Dratte, Joshawn Ayala and Anthony Schneider are wanted by the Criminal Investigation Bureau's Major Crime Unit for the murder of Ms. Schjang and Mr. Jarvis.
Both men are believed to be on the mainland and are said to frequent Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida, according to the V.I.P.D.
Joshawn Ayala is a 20-year-old Hispanic male with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes, weighing about 113 pounds. He stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall and formerly resided in Bonne Esperance, St. Croix.
Anthony Schneider, age 31, is a light-complexioned Hispanic male standing approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall. He weighs about 115 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. Schneider's left arm is deformed from gunshot injuries, according to the V.I.P.D.
The suspects are maternal cousin, the V.I.P.D. said.
The homicides were high profile incidents that rocked St. Croix, with condolences for Ms. Schjang — a well-known individual in the community — pouring in from persons such as former Governor Kenneth Mapp and Oran Roebuck, senior vice president and division manager of the Virgin Islands Region of Banco Popular.
Ms. Schjang was pronounced dead on the scene on the morning on Jan. 27 after a stray bullet from a shooting on the road separating Peter's Rest from Castle Coakley, just south of the El Sol Bar and Restaurant entered her home and struck her in the upper body, the V.I. Police Department said at the time.
According to Mr. Dratte, the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call from a concerned resident at about 7:45 a.m. reporting discharging of shots in the Castle Coakley area. A second call came in at about 8:10 a.m. reporting discharging of shots in the same area. The 911 Emergency Call Center then received a third call at about 8:12 a.m., this time from a family member of a female victim, who said the victim was found in her home with a single gunshot wound to the upper body.
V.I.P.D. officers and Emergency Medical Technicians responded to the scene, where the victim was pronounced dead on arrival.
The victim, identified by next of kin as Ms. Schjang, was preparing to head to work, according to police.
"A preliminary investigation revealed that there was discharging of shots between two vehicles in the area. The victim was in her home when one of the shots discharged, a stray bullet, struck the victim resulting in her death," said Mr. Dratte.
Mr. Jarvis, who had a close relationship with Ms. Schjang, was shot dead just before noon on Feb. 4 at the Green Cay Beach on St. Croix's east end.
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 Restaurant. 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 Mr. Dratte. Emergency Medical Technicians examined Mr. Jarvis and determined that there were no vital signs. The deceased was carried out by the Medical Examiner's Office.
The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects to contact Crime Stoppers USVI with an anonymous tip here, or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-712-6040 or 340-712-6092.
Correction: Nov. 5, 2022 at 9:01 a.m.
A previous version of this story's photo description, because of a text error, misstated the name of one of the suspects. It's Joshawn Ayala, not Jonathan Rivera. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.
