Mugshot of Steven Moore Jr. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A man has appeared in court after allegedly pointing a gun at a woman who told him to leave her home.
According to court documents, the woman reported the incident on July 21, saying that Steven Moore Jr. had brandished a firearm at her. She explained to police that she and Moore had previously been intimate, but that she had declined several requests from him to be in a committed relationship. However, Moore had been residing in her Christiansted home for the past three weeks or so.
That morning, the woman said that she and her current boyfriend were at a gas station when they encountered Moore, who greeted them with a profanity-laced verbal tirade. When she returned home, the woman reportedly told Moore that he needed to find different accommodations. This prompted him to pull out a pistol and aim it at her, she said. He reportedly told her that the gun was loaded and threatened to kill her. The woman said she was holding her 2-year old daughter at the time.
She recounted pushing past Moore and running out of the back door. The woman told police that she watched as he left the house and walked towards Fort Christiansvaern. He had a small backpack with him, she said.
The woman decided to tail him in her vehicle. She noticed that when he reached Fort Christiansvaern, he no longer had the backpack. She returned home and reportedly discovered a small plastic bag which she suspected contained ammunition, due to its weight.
Investigating officers found the bag on top of a mini refrigerator in the bedroom the woman said had been assigned to Moore. The bag did contain ammunition; 34 9mm rounds, and four .40 caliber rounds.
While in the presence of police, the woman received a call from someone who she said was Moore. Officers, with body-worn cameras running, said they heard the male voice on the other end say that he was just trying to scare the woman with the gun. He did not actually intend to kill her, the man reportedly said over the phone.
Despite searching for the backpack along the route the woman said Moore took from the house to Fort Christiansvaern, police were unable to locate it. However, they did ascertain that Moore does not have a license for a firearm in the Virgin Islands.
On Thursday, Moore, who is currently serving an almost 10-year suspended sentence for firearm offenses imposed last July, was brought to the Wilbur Francis Command police station by two probation officers. After declining to provide a statement to police, Moore was arrested and charged with third-degree assault as a crime of domestic violence, as well as carrying an unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was remanded into custody to await his advice of rights hearing.
In court on Friday, Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross found probable cause to uphold the charges against Moore. Bail was retained at the prescribed $50,000, however the judge did allow for the posting of only 10% in cash with the remainder signed as an unsecured bond.
If released from detention, however, Moore will be confined to 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring. He will also be required to stay at least 500 ft from his alleged victim.
His next court appearance is scheduled for August 27.
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