St. Croix, USVI - On April 10, 2022, at 4:56 p.m. the 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched the Wilbur Francis Command units to a possible suicide in Estate Whim. Upon arrival, the father of the victim was interviewed and stated that he last spoke to his deceased son on April 9, 2022, at 2:30 pm. The victim advised him that he was not feeling well, and he got him some medication at about 3:00 pm and that was the last time he saw his son.

Steven Moore, Jr.

On April 10, 2022, at 4:30 p.m., he went to check on his son and found him dead with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was observed laying on his back with his body partially covered with a sheet.

Community assistance was sought to determine when the gunfire occurred and if anyone saw any unusual movement near the residence of the victim prior to police arrival. During the investigation, detectives learnt that Steven Moore, Jr. was at the home of the deceased, where they previously hung out. Investigation further revealed that Mr. Moore left but later returned to the residence where he shot and killed Michael Petersen.

On Thursday, October 06, 2022, at approximately 4:41 am, the Virgin Islands Police Department Criminal Investigation and Special Operation Bureaus executed an arrest for Steven Moore and a search warrant for his home that was issued by the Honorable Magistrate Judge Yolan Brow-Ross on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, in reference to the Murder of Michael Petersen.

The search yielded a fully loaded firearm and two additional magazines with ammunition from Mr. Moore’s bedroom. He was then additionally charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm after a firearm record check revealed that he was not authorized to possess or carry a firearm.

Moore was arrested without incident and unable to post the bail of $200,000.00, he was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending Advised of Rights Hearing on Friday, October 7, 2022.

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All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this press release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.