Mugshot of Francis Javaughn. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — The V.I. Police Department on Wednesday set bail at $1 million for murder suspect Francis Javaughn, age 19, of the Ruby Rouse housing community for allegedly shooting and killing a man in Red Brick (D. Hamilton Jackson Housing Community) Tuesday.
The suspect was unable to make bail and was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advisement hearing.
Two men were shot in Red Brick Tuesday afternoon and one succumbed to his injuries while the other was last listed as being in critical condition at the Juan F. Luis Hospital. The deceased victim has since been identified by next of kin as 21-year-old Jose M. Rivera.
Police Commissioner Ray Martinez first expressed condolences and healing to the family of the victim. He then praised the responding officers and detectives for their diligence and successful execution of a police operation that resulted in the swift arrest. And he thanked the community for providing what the commissioner said was invaluable information that led to the identification of a person of interest who was subsequently arrested and charged.
"The community was instrumental in providing officers with information that proved critical in the department's investigation today," he said. "This information led to a person of interest being identified and later arrested as our investigation developed."
The arrest of the murder suspect is the second major arrest in two weeks under Mr. Martinez's leadership. On Dec. 17, four males, including a minor, were arrested on more than twenty counts for the criminal offenses linked to the early Dec. shooting and robbery of Glitter's Jewelry Store in St. Thomas.
