Bryan Reveals Officer Charles Was Blocked and Ambushed Leaving Home; Several Arrests Made as Governor Calls for Death Penalty

ST. CROIX — Officer Eustace Charles was blocked by several individuals and ambushed as he left his home early Sunday morning to report for duty as part of Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach’s security detail, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. revealed Sunday afternoon, providing the first detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the officer’s killing. Mr. Bryan said cameras installed as part of the V.I. Police Department’s surveillance system enabled investigators to quickly identify the vehicles used in the attack and track them across St. Croix. He said several arrests had since been made, multiple firearms were confiscated and search warrants were executed.

“At this point, several arrests have been made. We call them persons of interest. Several firearms were confiscated, and search warrants were executed,” the governor said during the live address. Mr. Bryan did not disclose the number of people taken into custody, identify them or state whether criminal charges had been filed. He also did not provide descriptions of the vehicles, firearms or locations searched, citing the active investigation. The governor said the attack occurred at approximately 5 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. as Mr. Charles was leaving home to begin his assignment protecting the lieutenant governor. The officer’s vehicle was blocked before several individuals opened fire, according to Governor Bryan. Members of Officer Charles’s family heard the gunfire and went to him, the governor said. Mr. Charles was still breathing when they reached him but later succumbed to his injuries.

Federal Agencies Join Investigation The governor said the VIPD is working with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the V.I. Attorney General’s Office to pursue those responsible. “We want the full extent of the law, and we have cooperating federal officials from the FBI, the DEA, Homeland Security, all working in concert with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the AG's office, so that we prosecute these people to the full extent,” he said. The governor then called for the most severe punishment available. “Nothing less than the death penalty is acceptable in this case,” Mr. Bryan said.

Federal law permits capital punishment for certain federal offenses under the Federal Death Penalty Act, which is codified at 18 U.S.C. Sections 3591 through 3599. The District Court of the Virgin Islands has the jurisdiction of a United States district court, allowing qualifying federal criminal cases to be prosecuted in the territory. The disclosure provided additional context to VIPD’s earlier account. Police previously said the 911 Emergency Call Center received a report of shots fired in Williams Delight at approximately 5:50 a.m. Responding officers found the 51-year-old officer unresponsive inside a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds, and Emergency Medical Technicians determined that he had no vital signs.