After a search of his Mt Pleasant East-area home, Rafael Munoz, 30, was arrested and charged with a firearm violation, according to St. Croix Police Chief Oakland Benta.

Benta described Munoz as “a person of interest” in the July 26 murder of Ivor James. James was working as a security guard at the Carambola Beach resort when his body was found by co-workers arriving at the resort that morning.

“Members of the investigation bureau spent long hours, many months in putting this case together and trying to evaluate and interview any possible witnesses or witness who might have had information concerning this matter,” Benta said. “As a result, Mr. Raul Munoz was a person of interest.”

Executing a search warrant at Munoz’s home at about 5 a.m. Friday, police found a weapon and arrested Munoz on a charge of possession of an unauthorized firearm.

Munoz was taken to the Golden Grove Correctional Facility pending his court appearance.

Benta commended both his officers and community residents who provided information. He also promised James’s family that police would “leave no stone unturned” in finding the person responsible for the crime.