On the morning of October 29, 2018, a tragedy unfolded in the Tower Grove South neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, claiming the life of a dedicated public servant. Ralph Edward Harper, a 67-year-old White male and retired police sergeant, arrived in the 3100 block of Lackland Avenue around 7:30 a.m. He was parking his vehicle near a relative’s home, intending to babysit his great-nephew’s young children, when he was ambushed.
The quiet morning routine was shattered when an armed individual approached Harper’s car in an attempted robbery and carjacking.
The encounter quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. Harper, who had served 33 years with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department before retiring in 2007, was armed and exchanged gunfire with the assailant. During the shootout, Harper was struck by a bullet but managed to wound the attacker in the arm. Despite his injuries, the retired sergeant was able to call 911 to report the incident. Emergency responders rushed him to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The suspect fled the scene in a stolen SUV driven by an accomplice.
Investigators quickly identified the individuals involved in the botched robbery. The shooter was identified as Jalynn Garner, who was 16 years old at the time of the murder. He was dropped off at a hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound inflicted by Harper, which led to his apprehension. The getaway driver was identified as 15-year-old Justin Mathews. A third teenager, Julian Mathews, age 17, was also in the vehicle but fled before the shooting and was later found hiding in a dumpster; he was not directly implicated in the murder but faced related charges.
The legal proceedings for the accused stretched over several years. Jalynn Garner was certified to stand trial as an adult. Although he initially pleaded guilty in 2019, he was allowed to withdraw that plea after being deemed unsuitable for a juvenile rehabilitation program. In September 2023, Garner, then 21, reached a plea deal with prosecutors, admitting to second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Justin Mathews, the younger accomplice, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and robbery charges. He received a suspended 20-year sentence and was ordered to remain in juvenile detention until the age of 21, with his release contingent upon successful completion of the program.
