Arrest Made on STX for STT Highway Murder

A.J. Pike

St. Croix - The VIPD made a swift arrest  on St. Croix of a suspect in connection with the August 27, 2026, St. Thomas highway murder of 21-year old Gerell L. Reed. 

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, Detectives received information indicating that J’vonte Mercer, 23, who was a suspect in Mr. Reed’s murder, was on St. Croix, preparing to board a flight to the U.S. mainland. VIPD Detectives traveled to St. Croix and located Mr. Mercer and placed him under arrest without incident. Mr. Mercer was subsequently transported back to St. Thomas, where he was processed, booked, and remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights Hearing. He was charged with Homicide, Assault First, Assault Third, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. His bail was set at $1,000,000. 

The fatal shooting occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at around 2:50 am in the area of Judy M. Gomez Highway on St. Thomas. Police were notified that a car had crashed into a wall around the highway and came to find Mr. Reed inside. 

The investigation into the homicide was conducted by the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) who eventually identified Mr. Mercer as the suspect. 

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact the CIB at 340-774-2211 ext 5555/5556, or 340-714-9830. Information can also be provided by calling 911, or Crime Stoppers VI at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).