ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man was convicted for killing his girlfriend and her children in 2021.
Ronald Marr, 36, was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action in connection with the deadly shooting of his girlfriend Kanisha Hemphill and her children Journee, 8, and Ja'kari, 1, on Feb. 4, 2021.
“The cold-blooded killing of three innocent victims, including two children, is a devastating tragedy for this family,” Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said in a statement. “The diligence of our team achieved a fitting verdict that will keep their killer behind bars for the rest of his life.”
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a “shots fired” call at around 7 a.m. in the 4100 block of South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis’ Dutchtown neighborhood. When officers arrived, they found a 1-year-old girl, an 8-year-old girl and a 30-year-old woman suffering gunshot wounds. All three victims died, St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden confirmed.
Marr is Hemphill's ex-boyfriend, according to charging documents. Family members told 5 On Your Side he is also the youngest child's father.
After the murders, police said Marr discarded his cell phone and purchased a new one. He then bought a Greyhound bus ticket and fled the state of Missouri, documents stated. He was captured about 100 miles away in Illinois.
Police records show officers responded to that address twice within three hours two days before the shooting for a domestic disturbance.
Punishment for first-degree murder is life in prison without parole. Sentencing is scheduled for March 8.
