Mugshot of Steven Moore Jr. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — V.I. Police Department officers on Thursday arrested a man and charged him with the murder of Michael Petersen who was shot to death on April 10.
The suspect, identified by police as Steven Moore Jr., was arrested without incident on Thursday at approximately 4:41 a.m. by the V.I.P.D.'s Criminal Investigation and Special Operation Bureaus.
The detectives executed an arrest for Moore on a search warrant for his home that was issued by a magistrate on Wednesday, September 28 in reference to the murder of Petersen, according to the V.I.P.D.
Background
On April 10, 2022, at 4:56 p.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched the Wilbur Francis Command police units to a possible suicide in Estate Whim.
Upon arrival, the father of the victim was interviewed and stated that he spoke to his deceased son on April 9, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. The victim advised his father that he was not feeling well, and the father provided him with some medication at about 3:00 p.m. That was the last time the father saw his son alive, according to police.
On April 10, 2022, at 4:30 p.m., the father went to check on his son and found him dead with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was observed lying on his back with his body partially covered with a sheet, the V.I.P.D. said.
Community assistance was sought to determine when the gunshot occurred, with investigators seeking information on unusual movement near the deceased victim's residence at any time prior to the arrival of police. "During the investigation, we learnt that Steven Moore Jr. was at the deceased home where they smoked marijuana and hanged out. We further learnt that Mr. Moore left but later returned to Mr. Petersen’s home where he shot and killed Mr. Petersen," stated Commander Lt. Naomi Joseph.
Moore was arrested without incident and remanded to the John. Bell Correctional Facility after failing to post bail of $200,000. His advisement hearing has been scheduled for Friday.
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