An apparent altercation on the streets of Frederiksted turned deadly early Sunday morning, leading to a murder charge. Witnesses told police they saw the accused assaulting the victim moments before he was seen firing a handgun.
Authorities responded to the alert of a crime in progress when a shot spotter device picked up gunshots fired in the area of King Street. Twenty-two-year-old Rosniel Diaz-Bautista was identified shortly after police arrived on the scene. His identity was confirmed by security camera images collected as part of a murder investigation.
Information found in court documents includes interviews conducted with witnesses at the scene. One witness said they saw Diaz-Bautista grab the victim, identified as Indierra Morales, 24, by the hair and pull her to the ground. Morales then walked a short distance and sat on a vehicle parked nearby. The witness then told police they saw the accused approach Morales, draw a weapon, and fire multiple shots.
Morales was transported to the Gov. Juan Luis Hospital Emergency Room where she was later pronounced dead.
Diaz-Bautista was taken to the VIPD Operations and Administrative Building at Mars Hill where he was questioned about the shooting on King Street. He declined comment when questioned by investigators, court documents said.
Charges filed in the case include first-degree murder, first-degree assault and reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition.
One million dollars bail was set at the time of arrest. Diaz-Bautista was scheduled to appear at an advice of rights hearing before Superior Court Magistrate Yolan Brow-Ross on Monday.
