St. Croix, USVI - On Saturday, December 10, 2022, at around 11:47 a.m., 9-1-1 Emergency Call Center, received several phone calls of a shooting at the Barren Spot Village Mall. Upon the detective's arrival, they observed an unresponsive black male lying on the ground.

Detectives were approached by a black male who identified himself. He proceeded to inform the detectives that he shot the deceased and that he has a valid licensed firearm. He provided his firearm I.D. and his firearm which were collected by forensics. He was instructed to travel to the Police Operation & Administrative Building at Mars Hill, Frederiksted, where he was advised of his rights, and he provided a statement.

He stated that when he stepped outside his business, he observed the black male walking towards him aggressively holding an object in his hand, saying “I going to kill you.” He felt that his life was in immediate danger and drew his firearm and discharged two shots at the black male. The black male then dropped a rock, ran, and fell to the ground about twenty feet away.

Emergency Medical Technicians were dispatched and found no signs of life. The remains were collected by DOJ Medical Examiner's Office technicians pending an autopsy.

The business video surveillance footage was turned over to forensic into evidence and reviewed and it concurred with statements collected on the scene. Preliminary investigation disclosed that the shooting was justifiable.

The deceased was identified by his next of kin as 44-year-old Michael Brathwaite.