Man Shot Dead Near STX Sion Farm Gas Station

Man Shot Dead Near STX 

  Sion Farm Gas Station

A.J. Pike

**UPDATE!!

     St. Croix - On Friday, June 26, 2026, at just after 7:00 pm, the St. Croix Emergency Call center received a ShotSpotter notification, along with multiple calls reporting shots fired in the vicinity of the WMJR Service Station in Sion Farm, St. Croix.

     The Virgin Islands Police Department, Emergency Medical Services, and other emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, responders discovered an unresponsive adult male who was pronounced dead at the scene.

     The next of kin identified the male as Pedro Melendez Sanes, age 50. 

     VIPD were able to apprehend the suspect in the fatal shooting, who was still at the scene, and arrest him.     

**The suspect has now been identified as 48-year old Brian Schooler, a licensed firearm owner. Mr. 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 REndangerment, Discharging or aiming a firearm. He was unable to post bail in the amount of $1,000,000. He was remanded to the John A. Bell Correctional Facility pending his Advice of Rights Hearing at the Superior Court on Monday, June 29, 2026.

     This incident remains under active investigation. Anyone with information about this murder or any other crimes, is urged to call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-778-2211, or Crime Stoppers VI at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or call 911.