In a quiet residential area of unincorporated St. Louis County, a dispute escalated into a tragedy that claimed the lives of a brother and sister. Marc Rhodes Jr., a 19-year-old male, and his 20-year-old sister, Lanija Cooper, were shot and killed on the morning of Sunday, May 5, 2024, outside their home on Wurdack Avenue. The incident shattered the peace of the neighborhood just west of Overland and left a family grieving an unimaginable loss.
The events of that fatal morning were set
in motion by a conflict from the previous night. Authorities believe that 19-year-old Lamarr Harris, the ex-boyfriend of Lanija Cooper, suspected her of slashing his new girlfriend's tires. Seeking confrontation, Harris took a Lyft to Cooper's residence around 9:30 a.m. There, he was met by Marc Rhodes Jr., and an argument ensued. The verbal altercation quickly turned physical when Rhodes punched Harris in the face. In response, Harris allegedly pulled out a. 40-caliber handgun and opened fire, fatally wounding both Rhodes and Cooper. Both siblings were pronounced dead at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, responding officers from the Central County Precinct were able to quickly locate and apprehend Harris. Following his arrest, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed charges against Lamarr Harris, who resides in Florissant. He faces one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action in connection with the death of Marc Rhodes Jr. He is currently being held on a $750,000 cash-only bond. Charges related to the death of Lanija Cooper were under advisement.
