On the left, the Jan. 27, 2022 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. By. MUGSHOTS FROM THE VIPD; SCENE OF CRIME FROM V.I. CONSORTIUM.
The V.I. Police Department announced Friday night that two men wanted on murder charges in connection with the homicide deaths of 46-year-old Stacie Schjang, which occurred on Jan. 27, 2022 and Arnold Jarvis, age 52, who was killed on Feb. 4, 2022 at the Green Cay Beach on St. Croix's east end, were arrested Friday in Georgia by law enforcement with the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).
Anthony Schneider and Joshawn Ayala were arrested by the MCSO's Drug, Gang, and Fugitive Unit in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, following the successful execution of two felony murder arrest warrants.
Schneider had outstanding warrants for first-degree murder issued by U.S. Virgin Islands authorities. He also had an outstanding arson warrant which was issued by the Cobb County Sheriff's Office in Georgia. Schneider was arrested near 13th Ave in Muscogee County and transported to the Muscogee County Jail without incident. As of Friday he was awaiting extradition to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Joshawn Ayala also had outstanding warrants for first-degree murder issued by U.S. Virgin Islands authorities. Ayala was arrested near 32nd Ave in Muscogee County and transported to the Muscogee County Jail without incident. He was also awaiting extradition as of Friday.
The suspects are maternal cousins, according to the V.I.P.D.
"The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office will not allow violent criminals to hide in our county. We will continue our mission in these efforts to make Muscogee County a safer place for all Citizens," reads a statement from the County.
V.I. Police Department Commissioner Ray Martinez, who has promised to bring those responsible for these homicides to justice, on Friday thanked agencies involved in the arrest of the suspects. He thanked the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF) St. Croix District, the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, V.I. Port Authority Police, and Homeland Security Investigation, St. Croix District.
"It was a collaborative effort between local and federal agencies that provided assistance that made these apprehensions possible, and the community as a whole, who continues to be a consistent partner," the commissioner said. “I will do my very best to ensure the officers have the resources to fight crime in the territory.”
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.
