ST. CROIX — An 18-year-old suspect, Nkush Jayden James, has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of a minor in Frederiksted, St. Croix, according to the V.I. Police Department.
The incident, which took place on June 10, 2023, at approximately 6:10 p.m. at the old Queen Mary Service Station on Mount Pleasant, came to light after emergency services received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive male in a car.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim's lifeless body, prompting an investigation by members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. The investigation identified James as the perpetrator of the crime, which was reportedly committed when he was 17 years old.
Due to his age at the time of the crime, James had been in protective custody at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility. Following a transfer hearing, he was charged as an adult. A Superior Court Judge issued an arrest warrant for James on February 14, 2024, with bail set at $1 million.
On Tuesay the VIPD's Criminal Investigation Bureau executed the arrest warrant, booking James on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence. James, unable to post bail, was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility.
His Advice of Rights Hearing is scheduled for February 21 at the V.I. Superior Court on St. Croix.
The case has drawn attention to the procedures for handling crimes committed by minors and the transition of cases into adult court.
