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EAST ST. LOUIS, IL ( KPLR ) -
Authorities answered most of the questions surrounding the shooting deaths of four young women in less than 48 hours in East St. Louis. Two of the victims were cousins. There was a surprise development in one case Tuesday night and cold-blooded new details in the other three. Milton Lattimore, 21, of St. Louis, was charged with three counts of first degree murder for the Saturday night slayings of his former girlfriend, Jaimaca McDaniel, 24, and two of her friends, as they sat in a car at a gas pump at the Crown Food Mart at Collinsville Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive.
Police said he confessed to killing out of jealousy, repeatedly firing into the car to kill McDaniel, and walking around to the other side to make sure he got both of her friends, Tenikia Harvey, 26, and Raykel Gathing, 26.
Investigators with the Major Case Squad also said what they thought might be a 4th murder connected to the triple murder case, was really no murder at all.
"We've determined the cause of death was the accidental discharge of a firearm that was in her possession," said Eric Van Hook of the Major Case Squad.
He said the victim, Zondra Garner, 22, McDaniel's cousin, was carrying a pizza and drinks in the Gompers housing complex, just a few blocks from the triple murder scene and less than 48 hours after her cousin's death. As Garner left her vehicle, the gun accidentally went off; the precise reason perhaps never to be known, Van Hook said. He said investigators found the gun under Garner's body.
"The firearm that she was in possession of was also the firearm that took her life...clearly just a very tragic accident," Van Hook said.
Garner's sister said she hoped that was true but still had doubts, given the murder of her cousin.
"It's kind of a tough cookie to swallow that Jaimaca's gone, now [Zondra's] gone less that two days later," said Garner's sister, Ashley Scott. "It's a coincidence to me that jaimaca left us Saturday, and now Monday, Zondra's gone." Though, she said, after initial misgivings, she was inclined to believe investigators.
For the first time Tuesday, police released details about the triple murder case. They said Lattimore shot McDaniel in the arm, back and throat; shot Harvey, in the head; shot Gathing in the back, killing all three with his own two, young, sons in Harvey's car with the victims. Police said Lattimore told them he couldn't stand to see anyone else with McDaniel and as far as he was concerned, Harvey and Gathing weren't helping his cause.
"The scene was a tragic scene," said East St. Louis Police Captain, Bobby Cole. "It was a tragedy not only for the families, but the citizens of East St. Louis and the East St. Louis police department, because we all have children and for something like this to happen in such close proximity, it was hurtful for everyone here."
East St. Louis Police Detective, Kenneth Berry, said a tip from the public led to Lattimore's capture.
"We received an anonymous tip that he was walking around downtown St. Louis. We responded to that location and true enough that was him," Berry said.
"When we get assistance like that from the citizens, these are the results," Cole added.
Lattimore was locked up in the St. Clair County Jail, Tuesday, bail set at $2 million.
Police said he confessed to killing out of jealousy, repeatedly firing into the car to kill McDaniel, and walking around to the other side to make sure he got both of her friends, Tenikia Harvey, 26, and Raykel Gathing, 26.
Investigators with the Major Case Squad also said what they thought might be a 4th murder connected to the triple murder case, was really no murder at all.
"We've determined the cause of death was the accidental discharge of a firearm that was in her possession," said Eric Van Hook of the Major Case Squad.
He said the victim, Zondra Garner, 22, McDaniel's cousin, was carrying a pizza and drinks in the Gompers housing complex, just a few blocks from the triple murder scene and less than 48 hours after her cousin's death. As Garner left her vehicle, the gun accidentally went off; the precise reason perhaps never to be known, Van Hook said. He said investigators found the gun under Garner's body.
"The firearm that she was in possession of was also the firearm that took her life...clearly just a very tragic accident," Van Hook said.
Garner's sister said she hoped that was true but still had doubts, given the murder of her cousin.
"It's kind of a tough cookie to swallow that Jaimaca's gone, now [Zondra's] gone less that two days later," said Garner's sister, Ashley Scott. "It's a coincidence to me that jaimaca left us Saturday, and now Monday, Zondra's gone." Though, she said, after initial misgivings, she was inclined to believe investigators.
For the first time Tuesday, police released details about the triple murder case. They said Lattimore shot McDaniel in the arm, back and throat; shot Harvey, in the head; shot Gathing in the back, killing all three with his own two, young, sons in Harvey's car with the victims. Police said Lattimore told them he couldn't stand to see anyone else with McDaniel and as far as he was concerned, Harvey and Gathing weren't helping his cause.
"The scene was a tragic scene," said East St. Louis Police Captain, Bobby Cole. "It was a tragedy not only for the families, but the citizens of East St. Louis and the East St. Louis police department, because we all have children and for something like this to happen in such close proximity, it was hurtful for everyone here."
East St. Louis Police Detective, Kenneth Berry, said a tip from the public led to Lattimore's capture.
"We received an anonymous tip that he was walking around downtown St. Louis. We responded to that location and true enough that was him," Berry said.
"When we get assistance like that from the citizens, these are the results," Cole added.
Lattimore was locked up in the St. Clair County Jail, Tuesday, bail set at $2 million.
