Sources: WAFB, Wide Open Country, PEOPLE, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
This may be one of the most senseless murder cases I’ve ever read.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Jessica Lashly and her 17-year-old daughter, Jersey Greer, had just arrived home to their House Springs, Missouri residence on July 25 when a 73-year-old neighbor, Robert Winkelman, walked over to confront them about noise and activity at the home.
Authorities say the conversation lasted only moments.
Investigators allege that after Jessica made a comment during the exchange, Winkelman pulled out a handgun and shot her in the head.
As horrifying as that is, what happened next is even harder to comprehend.
Rather than running away, Jersey immediately rushed toward her mother to help her.
Authorities say she was then shot in the head by Winkelman as she tried to save her.
Investigators also say the gunman chased a third person before deputies arrived. When law enforcement attempted to take Winkelman into custody outside his home, he turned the gun on himself. He later died from his injuries.
Jessica and Jersey were both transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Tragically neither survived.
I keep thinking about how unreal this must have been for Jersey's twin sister Justice, who was at work when the shootings happened.
She later shared: “Jersey’s last moments, she was trying to save my mom.”
Instead of remembering your sister’s final moments as peaceful, you know she was terrified and her last instinct was to protect someone she loved.
That kind of courage should never be asked of a 17-year-old.
Police say that Winkelman had ongoing frustrations with activity at the family’s home.
A noise complaint.
That’s what allegedly set all of this into motion.
I’ve had noisy neighbors. I’ve been a noisy neighbor.
I don’t think any of us hear the words “noise complaint” and imagine that leading to the murder of a mother and her daughter.
That’s what makes this story so difficult to process. It was so senseless.
According to family members, Jersey was a talented lacrosse player with dreams of continuing the sport after high school alongside her twin sister. Even after everything that happened, her family chose to honor her generous spirit by donating her organs, helping save six lives.
I don’t know if there’s a greater contrast than that.
One person’s final act was violence.
Another’s became the gift of life for complete strangers.
For this story, I’m linking the family’s verified GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses and the difficult road ahead.
Because this story isn’t really about a noise complaint.
It’s about a mother who never made it inside.
A daughter whose final act was trying to save her.
And a family now left trying to imagine a future without either of them.
