Juan Miguel Medina was arrested Friday in Puerto Rico and charged with the broad-daylight murder of Juan Pierre Batista a year ago on St. Thomas in the Rothschild Francis "Market" Square area.
Batista, 31, was killed on May 29, 1999, near Muhsens Supermarket. He was assaulted with a hammer and stabbed several times with a knife.
Medina was picked up in his home in Santurce, P.R., by the V.I. Justice Department's Special Investigations Division and V.I. and Puerto Rico police.
According to authorities, he is being held in Puerto Rico on $1 million bail until he can be extradited to St. Thomas.
In a press release, Attorney General Iver Stridiron said the arrest was the result of a year-long investigation. He charged that the suspect, after allegedly killing Bastista, fled the territory "as so many people do." He added that he was surprised that Medina, who is from the Dominican Republic, didn't go there.
After investigators received information that Medina was working on the subway construction under way in San Juan, police arrested him at his home.
Stridiron said he was awaiting a letter from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull to Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rossello requesting Medina's extradition. Since Medina was arrested on "probable cause," Stridiron said, he expects the suspect to be returned to the territory in the next few days.