ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A woman and her brother were fatally shot Sunday in St. Louis County, police said. The man accused of shooting them was arrested after fleeing the scene.
The suspect, 19-year-old Florissant resident Lamarr Harris, was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. He is being held on $750,000 cash-only bond.
The murder charge was issued for the killing of the male victim, 19-year-old Marc Rhodes Jr. Investigators also applied for charges against Harris for the killing of Rhodes's sister, 20-year-old Lanija Cooper, which were taken under advisement by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
With a .40 caliber weapon on hand, Harris used Lyft to go to the victims' home in the 10700 block of Wurdack Avenue to confront Cooper, who was his ex-girlfriend, according to court documents. Harris suspected Cooper of slashing his new girlfriend's tire.
Harris and Rhodes argued before Rhodes punched Harris in the face, court documents said.
"After Defendant was punched in the face, he pulled his weapon and shot (Rhodes)," the statement said. Rhodes died of his injuries.
A previous release from the police department said the female victim, later identified as Cooper, was found a short distance away with a fatal gunshot wound. Both siblings died at the crime scene.
A neighbor told 5 On Your Side he was able to give investigators a description of the suspect.
“We heard from detectives, I believe the guy had ordered (a rideshare). He did it and then had a (rideshare) ready for him so he could get out of here. Police saw him getting into a car and they thought it was weird. So they pulled that car over and stopped the driver,” the man said.
That same neighbor tried to help both of the victims.
"By time I got there, it was too late. There was nothing I could do. They both sustained shots to their side and their organs. There was no putting a tourniquet, nothing, it was already too late," he said.
5 On Your Side stopped by the family's home Monday afternoon, but they did not want to speak with 5 On Your Side on-camera, saying they were heartbroken and grieving the loss of the siblings.
If you'd like to help the Cooper-Rhodes family, they provided their Cash App username, $Mrs1st, where donations can be sent.