HAZELWOOD, Mo. — A Hazelwood woman is accused of shooting and killing the uncle of her grandchildren during a custody transfer.
Quiarra Short, 44, is charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
In court documents, Hazelwood police said Short fatally shot Shawn Lamont Freeman, the uncle of her grandchildren, on Sept. 28.
Police said on that day, Freeman's sister asked him for help picking up her children from the home of her children's father.
Police said Freeman's sister wanted him to come along because there was tension between her and Short, and Freeman was "known as a mediator-type."
Freeman and his friend met his sister at the home on Ville Angela Lane.
Officers said when the group entered the home's foyer, they encountered three women. The sister got into a verbal argument with the women, which escalated into a physical fight.
Police said Freeman put himself between his sister and the others in an attempt to break up the fight.
At the same time, he had his foot in the door and was passed an infant child. He called for his friend, passed the child to him, and the friend started taking the baby towards Freeman's vehicle. At the same time, another small child walked out of the home by themselves.
Police said the fighting continued and while the friend was walking away, he heard a single gunshot.
The friend said he turned around and saw Freeman fall to the ground, shouting, "I'm hit!"
Freeman was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Short was arrested at the scene after she admitted to responding officers that she shot the uncle.
Investigators said in an interrogation after being given her Miranda rights, Short said Freeman and his sister were being aggressive and tried to get into her house.
Short claimed she got knocked back into a stairwell banister, which led her to pull her gun and shoot the uncle in fear for her safety.
Short is being held on a $500,000 bond. A bond reduction hearing is set for Oct. 7.
The preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 30.
