MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — The man being hailed as a hero in the deadly community center shooting, Officer Larry Jerrod, did a stint with St. Louis Lambert Airport Police before he took the job that would bring him to the Maryland Heights Community Center Monday.
That's where he crossed paths with Michael Honkomp. The 30-year-old part-time janitor is charged with fatally shooting his coworker, Maria Lucas, because he was angry about being sent home from his shift early.
Court documents said Honkomp committed "point-blank execution-style murder" with "blatant indifference to human life."
The Florissant home listed on Honkomp's court filings has newspapers untouched at the end of the driveway, a light is still on inside.
Neighbors told 5 On Your Side they live in a friendly neighborhood, and Honkomp mostly kept to himself.
Still, Kevin Chism said he was surprised when they heard what happened.
"Yeah, I actually found out from my dad," Chism said. "He told me about it, and I had no idea that it was the guy right across the street. That's crazy."
Maryland Heights city workers said they are planning a memorial service to honor Lucas, 45, but details are not yet available.
Full Maryland Heights shooting coverage:
- Everything we know about the shooting that happened inside a St. Louis County community center
- Man charged with murder in Maryland Heights Community Center shooting
- Woman shot, killed at community center by co-worker who was ‘angry’ about being sent home from work
- 'Life could just end at any moment' | Woman inside community center during shooting hid in a closet
- ‘Very heroic’: Officer stops gunman suspected of killing woman inside Maryland Heights Community Center