St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – On Friday, June 26, 2026, at approximately 7:07 p.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center received a ShotSpotter notification and several calls reporting shots fired and a gunshot wound victim at the WMJR Service Gas Station in the vicinity of Sion Farm.
Upon the officer’s arrival at the scene, they observed an adult male sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Responding medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. The deceased was identified by a next of kin as 50-year-old Pedro Melendez Sanes.
The suspect was identified at the scene as 48-year-old Brian Schooler, a licensed firearm owner. Schooler was transported to the Criminal Investigation Bureau office, where he was placed under arrest and processed. He faces charges of Murder in the first degree, Assault First, Reckless Endangerment, Discharging or aiming a firearm. Unable to post bail in the amount of $1,000,000.00, he was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights at the Superior Court on Monday, June 29, 2026.
