RADIO STATION EMPLOYEE STRUCK DOWN BY STRAY BULLET AS SHE PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR WORK

CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix woman getting ready to leave for work was struck by a stray bullet inside her home as warring drug factions shot at each other early this morning.

The 911 Emergency Call Center was notified of female gunshot victim in the Castle Coakley / Peter’s Rest area at 8:10 a.m. today, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.

“Further information coming to police revealed that occupants in a vehicle were shooting after occupants in another vehicle in the immediate area, and a stray bullet struck the female through a window in her home,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “She was found by a relative who called 911.”

The victim, identified by next of kin as 46-year-old Stacie Schjang, died at the scene, according to Derima.

Police Commissioner Designee Ray A. Martinez offered condolences to Ms. Schjang’s family on her unfortunate death. Martinez also sent a stern message to the persons who continue to be on the wrong side of the law:

“We are coming to get you,” he said. “We are going to increase our actions on the smallest of incidents to make sure you understand that this gun violence has to stop.”