ST. CROIX — A suspected hitman from St. Croix whose murder case got dismissed after the government’s key witness was killed has been arrested in West Virginia on marijuana and conspiracy charges.
Quasheem Christian, 25, is charged in the Magistrate Court of McDowell County, West Virginia with one count of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and one count of conspiracy, according to a court document filed on October 28.
Christian’s bond was set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Wednesday.
As Christian faces criminal felony charges in West Virginia, his murder case in the Virgin Islands got dismissed on March 7 after the Virgin Islands Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss because its key witness was killed and unavailable to testify, according to court documents.
Christian was accused of killing 31-year-old Chandler “Frenchy” Heath by shooting him multiple times on January 29, 2023 in the area of Bolongo on St. Thomas. He was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, two firearm counts, and unauthorized possession of ammunition.
Surveillance footage from a nearby residence showed Heath reversing his tow truck onto property around Bolongo No. 25C at about 9:26 p.m. The footage showed an individual emerge from the bushes at about 9:27 p.m. and fire multiple gunshots at the victim’s vehicle, striking the victim.
Police interviewed a witness who was staying in a guest house with Christian in Bolongo at the time of the killing. Christian used the witness’s cellphone to text the victim and lure him to Bolongo before shooting and killing him, according to the witness. The witness told police she/he believed an incarcerated individual paid Christian to kill Heath. Police discovered Christian traveled on a Seaborne Airlines flight to St. Thomas from St. Croix on the day of the killing.
The witness, of St. Croix, did not see Christian again until returning to St. Croix on February 5, 2023, according to the witness. The witness emailed a photograph of Christian to detectives. On July 7, 2023, the witness informed detectives that Christian might know about the information she/he provided to police, and that her/his life may be in danger. The witness was relocated to St. Thomas from St. Croix on July 8, 2023. On December 8, 2024, Superior Court Magistrate Judge Paula Norkaitis found probable cause to charge Christian with first-degree murder in connection to Heath’s death.
