VIPD officers cordone off the road separating Peter's Rest from Castle Coakley, following a shooting incident that occurred at about 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. By. V.I. CONSORTIUM
Last updated on Sat. Feb. 5, 2022 at 5:02 a.m.
ST. CROIX — A woman was pronounced dead Thursday morning 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 has confirmed to the Consortium.
According to V.I.P.D. Communications Director Glen 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 46-year-old Stacie 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.
VIPD to Hold Press Briefing
The V.I. Police Department will hold a press briefing this afternoon between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to address the homicide, the fifth in the territory for 2022.
St. Croix Chief of Police Sean Santos and Police Commander Lieutenant Naomi Joseph, among other law enforcement officials, are expected to address the community.
The Consortium will carry the press briefing live on its Facebook platform and website.
