St. Croix Police have charged a Mon Bijou man with first-degree murder in connection with the Jan. 5 murder of Melford Selkridge, according to media reports.
Selkridge, also of Mon Bijou, was fatally shot in front of his girlfriend's house. Michael Christensen, 26, was taken into custody earlier this week on a bench warrant issued by Territorial Court Judge Edgar D. Ross. Selkridge was shot in the chest and died while en route to the Juan F. Luis Hospital.
Although the incident was once thought to be a robbery, new evidence uncovered by police in a month-long investigation has suggested that the victim was ambushed, according to St. Croix Police Chief Novelle
Francis. Christensen was remanded to custody of the Corrections Bureau in lieu of $250,000 bail following an advice-of-rights hearing in Territorial Court Tuesday. In addition to first-degree murder, Christensen faces charges of attempted first-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Police detective Lorreine Hassell told the court that Christensen has
given statements to police that he and another man decided to rob Selkridge on the date he was shot because they thought he was in possession of cash and marijuana. Christensen was armed with a shotgun and his accomplice with a .38 caliber handgun. Selkridge was shot by the accomplice as he stepped out of his vehicle at 144 Mon Bijou. Christensen said as both men fled from the scene, the yet to be identified accomplice told him that the weapon dropped to the ground and accidentally fired, according to the V.I. Independent.
Francis confirmed reports that a second suspect is being sought in Selkridge's death, the first in the territory this year.
"We expect an arrest soon," the chief said Tuesday. He encouraged anyone with additional information to contact police at 778-2211 or the emergency number, 911.
