Two men incarcerated in the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility in connection with the Aug. 29 murder of Carlos Juan Rosa were re-arrested there Thursday as police brought additional charges in the case.
Detectives of the V.I. Police Department arrested 33-year-old Edwin Ponce, who was charged with first-degree murder, and 41-year-old Edwin Rivera, charged with third-degree assault.
On the day of the murder, police responded to reports of shots fired at approximately 9:30 p.m. in Old Fredensborg Village. When they arrived on the scene they found Rosa unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead.
According to the initial report, police were told that Rosa heard stones being thrown at his house and opened the door to investigate. Multiple shots were discharged, several of which struck Rosa. Additional police responded to the scene, including Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives, the Special Operations Response Team and Crime Scene Investigation technicians. St. Croix Police Chief Christopher Howell was also present.
Rivera was identified as the suspect and was arrested just before 4 a.m. Aug. 30. He was charged with first-degree murder and held on $1 million. Ponce was arrested Sept. 24 in connection with the murder and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm because he allegedly threw a loaded .38 caliber firearm out the window as officers approached his building. Police said Ponce was also charged with first-degree assault in connection with the murder.
Police said the ongoing police investigation prompted additional charges to be brought. Both suspects were also charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, reckless endangerment, unlawful possession of ammunition and disturbance of the peace.
Edwin and Ponce were held on a $1 million bail and returned to the custody of the prison pending further court action.
