VELDA CITY, Mo. — Two men were charged Tuesday for tampering with evidence in connection with a deadly shooting earlier this month in north St. Louis County.
According to a release from the St. Louis County Police Department, 22-year-old Patrick Towns of Florissant and 21-year-old Anthony Bell of St. Louis were charged with stealing a firearm and tampering with evidence in a felony prosecution.
Jeremiah Latimore, 22, of Jennings was found dead with gunshot wounds shortly after 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 8 in the area of West Florissant Avenue and Gaylord Drive.
According to the probable cause statement, surveillance footage showed Towns removing a firearm from Latimore's body and driving off. License plate information was captured in the footage, and officers were able to get Towns' phone number through a search warrant of the vehicle owner's phone.
While executing a search warrant at a residence associated with Bell, officers arrested Towns, who denied involvement in the incident, but while he was being taken to the jail, Towns offered that could get the gun for officers.
Later that day, officers found Bell at a local hospital and place him under arrest. He identified himself and Towns as the men in the surveillance footage and admitted approaching the body, seeing Towns take the gun and driving them away from the scene.
As of Tuesday, both men were being held on $75,000 cash-only bonds.
St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives were leading the investigation.
Contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information regarding this incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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