A Missouri mother and her teenage daughter were shot and killed by their elderly neighbor, who confronted them outside their home over a noise complaint, before he turned the gun on himself and died days later.
Jessica Lashly, 38, and Jersey Greer, 17, were gunned down at their House Springs, Mo., home when 73-year-old Robert Winkelman confronted the pair around 8:30 p.m. on July 25, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
Winkelman had walked over to his neighbor’s home to complain about “activities at the residence” when he confronted Lashly.
He pulled a gun and shot Jessica Lashly in the head after she made a comment that angered the elderly man, officials said.
Greer rushed to give first aid to her wounded mother, but the crazed neighbor fired his gun at the teen, also striking her in the head.
“Jersey’s last moments, she was trying to save my mom,” Greer’s twin sister, Justice, told KSDK. “It just shows how brave she is, and I hope I can be half as brave as she is.”
Justice Greer, who was at work during the shooting, says her mother and sister had just returned to the house when Winkelman accosted them.
“They had just gotten home, and I kept thinking I wish my mom weren’t outside at that time. Obviously it wasn’t her fault. We don’t even know our neighbors, so it’s not anything she could’ve controlled,” the grieving teen said.
Winkelman allegedly chased a third person at the home but didn’t fire a shot.
Police reported to the house, where they found Winkelman and attempted to detain him, but the gunman turned the gun around and shot himself in the head.
Lashly, Greer and Winkelman were all rushed to local hospitals in critical condition.
Lashly and Greer died two days later on July 27, their family wrote in their shared obituary.
“Though their lives ended far too soon, the love they shared as mother and daughter will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew them,” the family wrote.
At the time of her death, Jersey Greer donated several of her organs to help six patients across the country, her friends said on social media.
“Knowing that three children and three adults have another chance at life because of Jersey brings a measure of peace during this hard season of our lives,” the post read. “While we would give anything to have her here, we are so proud of the incredible gift she gave.”
Greer, a rising high school senior who played lacrosse with her twin sister at Northwest High School, dreamed of playing college lacrosse with her twin sister after graduation.
“She was literally just the funniest person ever,” Justice Greer said of her sister. “She could make anybody laugh. She was really supportive about anything and everything. She could always tell when someone was sad or needed uplifting, and she was always the one to do it.”
Her teammates remembered her as a compassionate leader with a great personality.
“If you know Jersey, you know the joy, kindness, and light she brings to everyone around her. As her lacrosse family, we have witnessed her strength, determination, and the incredible person she is both on and off the field. Now it’s our turn to stand beside her and her family,” the team wrote in a GoFundMe.
Following the deaths of Lashly and Greer, officials obtained a no-bond arrest warrant for Winkelman, who was still hospitalized in critical condition.
He was charged with two counts of Assault in the First Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.
Winkelman, however, died Sunday from his gunshot wound and is unable to be tried for the horrific murder, the sheriff’s office said in an update on Tuesday.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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