Two Juveniles Charged in St. Croix Beating of 14-Year-Old Boy Investigated as Hate Crime

Police on St. Croix have arrested and charged two juveniles, a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old, in the beating of a 14-year-old boy, an assault the V.I. Police Department is investigating as a hate crime. The Virgin Islands Police Department announced the arrests Friday evening at a briefing led by Police Chief Houston Cornelius, Captain Herminia Rivera and Police Commissioner Mario Brooks. Deputy Chief Naomi Joseph was also present.

According to the department, the assault occurred in August 2026. Video of the incident did not come to the department’s attention until Tuesday, October 27, when the recording began circulating widely in the community. Captain Rivera, who commands the School Resource and Juvenile Division, said she received the video that Tuesday, along with information identifying several juveniles allegedly involved.

Investigators began examining the incident the following day. By Thursday, October 29, police had taken two male juveniles into protective custody and charged both with aggravated assault and battery, simple assault, and disturbance of the peace by threats. The 14-year-old and the 17-year-old were remanded to the Youth Rehabilitation Center pending their advice-of-rights hearings.

Captain Rivera said the investigation is ongoing and is considered a hate crime, and that additional charges would be pursued through the Virgin Islands Attorney General’s Office. The department has not yet announced the filing of separate hate-crime charges against either minor. Police are also seeking a third juvenile, a 16-year-old boy, for his alleged involvement in recording the attack. Captain Rivera said investigators are working with the juvenile officer on that matter.

A video reported earlier by the Consortium shows two individuals repeatedly striking and kicking a boy who is lying on a paved surface outdoors at night. The victim attempts to protect his head and body with his arms as the assault continues. A second recording shows the boy sitting on the pavement with blood visible around his mouth. The VIPD confirmed Friday that the victim is 14 years old. The identities of the juveniles have not been publicly released.

Commissioner Brooks warned that parents could face criminal prosecution if investigators uncover evidence of neglect. Protecting a child from violence is a duty that falls on the community as well as on the courts, a duty Psalm 82:3 sets before those who defend the weak. [Psalm 82:3]

After the video circulated, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett called for a thorough investigation into whether the assault was motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Mr. Bryan said Wednesday that he was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the video. He called on law enforcement and the Department of Justice to coordinate with federal authorities, if necessary, to determine whether hate-crime charges are warranted. Ms. Plaskett urged police to investigate the assault under the territory’s Hate-Motivated Crimes Act.

Friday’s announcement marked the first confirmation that arrests had been made in the case.

Source: Read the original report