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Mugshot of Rajah Caul. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — On Friday at roughly 7:05 a.m., 23-year-old Rajah Caul of Company Street, Christiansted was arrested on a warrant issued by the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, the V.I.P.D. has announced. He was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Michael Cruz, who was shot and killed on January 12 in Gallows Bay.
Bail for Caul was set at $1 million, which he was unable to post, and Caul was turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending his advisement hearing, said Toby Derima, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer.
St. Croix District Chief of Police Sidney Elskoe commended the officers of the Special Operations Bureau and the detectives of the Criminal Investigation Bureau who, in their efforts, have been "the tip of the spear" in making this arrest, said the V.I.P.D.
“Gun violence is unacceptable in our small community. We thank the members of the community who came forward with information to make this possible,” Chief Elskoe said.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, according to V.I.P.D. officials. In a press briefing held at 1:00 p.m. today, when asked if the individual arrested was the man seen in an image appearing to be heading toward the downed victim, Chief Elskoe said he could not comment on the matter. He further stated that the red Jeep Cherokee seen in the picture was recently stolen and had been recovered by the V.I.P.D.
If you have information about this or any other crimes, you are urged to contact police by calling 911, the Crime TipLine at (340) 778-4950, or send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here.
