SULLIVAN, Mo. — A 23-year-old woman is responsible for the deaths of two people in Franklin County, according to police.
Marie Pursley is facing multiple charges after two men were shot and killed early Friday morning.
Around 5:30 a.m., police responded to a shooting call in the 3300 block of Lollar Branch Road in Sullivan. They found a 23-year-old man who had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was from Gray Summit.
A second victim, a 24-year-old man from St. Clair, was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said during the investigation, they learned that Pursley and the two men had made plans to rob someone at their home on Lollar Branch Road of money and narcotics.
Investigators say Pursley dropped the men off a few hundred yards from the home, knowing that they had guns with the intent to commit a crime.
She's accused of then going inside the residence and doing narcotics with the homeowner. That's when the two men entered with guns pointed at the owner. Someone else who was inside at the time grabbed a gun, ordering the males to drop their weapons. Police say a fight broke out, and shots were fired, resulting in the two men being killed.
Pursley is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree attempted armed robbery.
Authorities say they will also seek narcotics-related charges against Pursley. She is being held in the Franklin County Jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond.
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.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to “stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.” One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/
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.”
To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership between and Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
To learn more, visit https://www.ulstl.com/anti-crime-initiative.html
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/