Sept. 29, 2002 – Police on St. Croix were continuing over the weekend to search for the alleged accomplice of a man charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a convenience store owner last Monday.
They said the assailant made his getaway in a green Honda sedan that was driven by an accomplice.
Based on the victim's own identification of her assailant before she died, police on St. Croix have charged Khamalli Barker, 22, of Estate Calquohoun with fatally shooting Rose Ovalle during a daylight robbery that reportedly netted $60 to $80.
Barker is being held on $1 million bail.
Police said Ovalle, 33, identified Barker before dying at Juan F. Luis Hospital on Monday evening following emergency surgery.
Deputy Police Chief Angel Santos said police arrested Barker at his residence in Calquohoun without incident on Wednesday.
According to Santos, Ovalle was able to identify Barker because he was a regular customer at the Ovalle Grocery and Convenience Store. Santos said Barker entered the store shortly before 11 a.m. Monday and robbed Ovalle, who was at the front counter, at gunpoint, then shot the victim three times and fled in the green vehicle.
Police officials said they have received information from community members that has aided in them in the investigation. The weapon, believed to be a small-caliber handgun, has not been recovered, they said.
Police Chief Novelle Francis said his department has been working closely with the V.I. Justice Department because police have built their case based on the testimony of the now-deceased victim. "We are confident that we have picked up the right individual," he said, referring to Barker.
Ovalle became the 15th homicide victim on St. Croix this year, and the 33rd in the territory. Charges have yet to be filed in 12 of the St. Croix cases. As of the date of her death, there had been 10 killings on St. Croix and a total of 17 in the territory in 2001. Police officials asked that anyone with information concerning any of the cases call the police on St. Croix at 778-4950, 778-2211 or emergency 911.

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