Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. added peace officers to police ranks Monday as investigators scoured St. Croix for Janigh Gonsalves, a suspect in the shooting of a man and a woman at the Lorraine Village Apartments. Separately, court records reveal new details in another killing at a St. Croix gas station.
Both victims were in stable condition at the Juan F. Luis Hospital after the 8:45 a.m. shooting, police said.
Bryan’s executive order designated peace officers from several government agencies to the command of the Virgin Islands Police Department commissioner from June 29 through July 12. The coordinated deployment will provide police with additional personnel to support territory-wide operations during a period of increased public activity, including St. John Celebration events.
“Public safety requires constant coordination and the ability to adjust resources as conditions require,” Bryan said. “This temporary deployment will give the Police Department additional trained personnel to strengthen its operations, increase visibility and help maintain peace and order throughout the territory.”
Gonsalves, 22, was described as a Black male with light complexion, weighing approximately 125 pounds, standing about 5’6” tall, with black hair in a twisted style. He has a birthmark on his chest. Gonsalves frequents Lorraine Village, Aureo Diaz and Grove Place. He is armed and dangerous, police said.
Gonsalves had been arrested in November 2024 for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Those charges were dropped in July 2025, however, because of a landmark ruling that same month finding the mere smell of marijuana did not constitute probable cause for a police search.
At roughly 7 p.m. Friday, Brian Schooler allegedly fired 15 bullets at the WMJR Service Station, striking and killing Pedro Sanes, police said.
When police arrived, a woman standing near the pumps pointed at Schooler and said, “He just shot him,” according to the police report. Witnesses said there were no words exchanged between the two men before Schooler allegedly opened fire.
Schooler told police the firearm was in his van. One of the witnesses, however, had managed to get the weapon — .40 caliber, Glock 22 and an empty magazine — away from Schooler after the shooting, he told police.
Schooler was a registered firearm owner.
Charged with murder, assault, discharging a firearm, and reckless endangerment, his bail was set at $1 million. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility.
