Hector Luis Mercardo, currently incarcerated at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility, was arrested at the prison Monday on a new set of charges.
The 24-year-old Mercado, along with 33-year-old Michael Rodriguez, are accused of the Sept. 7 murder of 39-year-old Joel Prime. Both suspects are in the custody at Golden Grove.
Monday afternoon St. Croix police went to the facility and charged Mercado with first-degree attempted robbery, third-degree assault and unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
According to Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives, Monday’s charges stemmed from an attempted robbery that occurred Aug. 21 on the Christiansted boardwalk. Detectives said Mercardo was positively identified as the person who attempted to rob another man.
Mercado pointed a gun at the victim and demanded money. However, the victim struggled with Mercado, who eventually fled the scene. The victim was not injured or robbed.
This is the second time Mercardo was arrested since he has been in custody, according to a statement from the police.
He was arrested Thursday on charges of first-degree robbery, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and grand larceny in connection with a Sept. 6 robbery on Strand Street in Christiansted.
Mercardo was again held on a $75,000 bail and returned to the custody of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility.
