On March 27, 2015, 23-year-old Paige Schaefer was tragically killed in a residence in the 4400 block of Itaska Street in Saint Louis, Missouri. She and another individual, James Lacey, were shot and killed inside the home. A third person, Brittney Brown, was also shot in the head but survived and was able to contact 911 for help.
The events unfolded when Jacobi Temple, accompanied by Demante Syms and Samuel Spires, went to the residence to collect a debt for heroin he had distributed.
Paige's mother, Tammie Thurmond, had provided Temple with the location of the house. While inside demanding payment, Temple fatally shot both Paige Schaefer and James Lacey. Shortly after the initial shootings, Temple, Syms, and Spires located Tammie Thurmond. Temple then took her to an alley where he shot and killed her as well.
The subsequent investigation led to the arrests of all three men involved. Jacobi Temple, the shooter, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and two counts of discharge of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking resulting in death. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murders of Paige Schaefer, James Lacey, and Tammie Thurmond. His co-defendant, Demante Syms, received a life sentence, and Samuel Spires was sentenced to 20 years in prison for their roles in the crimes. The investigation also resulted in the convictions of Syms and his mother for witness tampering related to the homicide investigation.
