Retired St. Louis Police Sgt. Ralph E. Harper, pictured in a photo released by the department, was killed during a botched robbery attempt Monday. (St. Louis Police Department)
Two Missouri teenagers were arrested Monday in connection with the fatal shooting that morning of a 67-year-old retired St. Louis police sergeant after a botched robbery attempt, authorities said.
The teens, ages 15 and 16, were charged with second-degree murder and attempted robbery, among other charges, FOX 2 of St. Louis reported. The 16-year-old is believed to have been the gunman, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
A third teen, age 17, was also arrested but police said he was not involved in the robbery. He was charged with misdemeanor vehicle tampering and resisting arrest, FOX 2 reported.
Police Sgt. Ralph E. Harper, who retired in 2007 after 33 years in the department, was parking his car around 7:30 a.m. near a park in St. Louis, when an armed robber approached him, the Post-Dispatch reported, citing police. Harper, who was armed, engaged in a shootout with the suspect.
He was on his way to babysit for a relative, a friend told FOX 2.
"It hit very close to home, because I knew the sergeant personally," St. Louis police Chief John Hayden told reporters, according to the Riverfront Times. "We're all mourning together."
"It hit very close to home, because I knew the sergeant personally. We're all mourning together."
A getaway vehicle took the 16-year-old to a nearby hospital to get treated for a gunshot wound to a wrist. Police arrested the 15-year-old and 17-year-old after they crashed the vehicle, according to the Post-Dispatch.
Police found a gun believed to be the murder weapon inside the vehicle, along with blood, the Post-Dispatch reported, citing a law enforcement source.
Harper called 911 himself and died shortly after being taken to a local hospital.
The 17-year-old was involved in a drug and weapons case just a week earlier and was released from custody as police awaited additional evidence, FOX 2 reported.
The two younger suspects are juveniles, so their names are not public. However, Marissa Woods revealed the identity of the 16-year-old as Justin Mathews, her son, and brother to Julian Mathews, according to the Dispatch.
It is unclear whether the two juveniles will be charged as adults.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
