June 9, 2004 – A second man has been charged with first-degree murder and other counts in connection with the shooting on April 17 of Police Officer Cuthbert Chapman at a St. Croix fast-food restaurant where he was working off-duty as a security guard. Chapman died nine days later in a Puerto Rico hospital, where he was being treated for his wounds.
Law-enforcement authorities announced on Wednesday afternoon the early-morning arrest of Troy Moore. According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Moore was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury on St. Croix on federal and territorial charges of first-degree felony murder and unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
The announcement was made jointly by U.S. Attorney David Nissman, Attorney General Iver Stridiron and Police Commissioner Elton Lewis. According to a release, authorities will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Almeric L. Christian Federal Building on St. Croix to provide further information.
Lewis expressed his appreciation to the FBI "for the assistance it has provided and continues to provide" in the ongoing investigation of Chapman's slaying, the release stated.
On May 10, Lewis announced that Reynaldo Berrios, 18, of the De Chabert housing community, had been charged in connection with Chapman's shooting. (See "Suspect Charged in Police Officer's Killing".)
Berrios was charged with the federal crimes of carjacking and unlawful use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and the territorial crimes of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and unauthorized possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime of violence.
Chapman, 43, was shot multiple times during an attempted robbery at the Wendy's restaurant in the Sunny Isle Shopping Center on the night of April 17. He died on April 26 while hospitalized in Puerto Rico.
According to police reports, at least three assailants were involved in the attempted robbery, which occurred shortly before 11 p.m. One man entered through the front door and jumped over the counter, and Chapman intervened and subdued him. Then, according to police, two armed individuals broke through the back entrance of the restaurant and fired several shots, hitting Chapman multiple times.
All three men were reported to have been wearing dark clothing, hoods and masks.
A police spokesman said the day after the shooting that Chapman, who initially was admitted to Juan F. Luis Hospital for treatment, "provided an excellent description" of the assailants.
Earlier on the day of the shootings, a woman had reported to police the that her car was hijacked at gunpoint in La Reine, about 10 minutes away from Sunny Isle. Police said the car was found that night in the Clifton Hill area and that they believed it to be the vehicle the assailants fled in from the restaurant.
A reward of $31,000 was offered "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Officer Chapman's murder."
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