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A Missouri mother and her teenage daughter were fatally shot inside their home after a neighbor came over to complain about a “dispute,” authorities said.
Robert Winkelman, 73, walked from his residence to a nearby home in House Springs, Missouri, on July 25 and confronted 38-year-old Jessica Lashly about what was happening at her house, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
As Lashly answered him, investigators said, Winkelman drew a gun and shot her in the head.
Jessica Lashly, 38, and her 17-year-old daughter, Jersey Greer, were both fatally shot inside their House Springs, Mo., home. (Midlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens)
Lashly’s 17-year-old daughter, Jersey Greer, then tried to come to her mother’s aid, but Winkelman shot her in the head as well, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities said Winkelman, still armed, also chased a third person, though that person was not shot. Lashly and Greer later died at a hospital in the days after the attack.
Deputies responding to the scene went to Winkelman’s home to confront him, but officials said he turned the gun on himself.
Winkelman died at a hospital on Aug. 2, investigators said. Had he survived, authorities said he would have faced two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action.
According to reports, investigators said Winkelman initially went to Lashly’s home to complain about noise. A spokesman for the sheriff’s office characterized the incident to News Outlet as a “dispute between neighbors.”
Investigators learned that Winkelman had “ongoing frustrations” with activities at Lashly’s home.
Robert Winkelman, 73, walked to his neighbor’s home and opened fire, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. He later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
Justice Greer, the teenage victim’s twin sister, told KSDK, “She was literally just the funniest person ever.
“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.
“Jersey’s last moments, she was trying to save my mom. It just shows how brave she is, and I hope I can be half as brave as she is.”
Justice Greer said Lashly was a single mother who did everything she could to support her daughters.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Winkelman would have faced two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
“It was always just us three,” Justice said. “It’s going to be really hard because that’s all I’m used to.”
Abby Feldmann, who coached Justice and Jersey Greer in lacrosse, told KSDK Jersey was someone who could “change your whole perspective on life.”
“There’s not one person who would refuse to follow her,” Feldmann said. “Everyone’s behind her. She’s really an amazing girl.”
