A St. Louis man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly opening fire on a group of men he spotted going through his car, killing one of them and wounding another, according to police.
Timothy Kemper, 39, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and three counts of armed criminal action following the July 16 shooting.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Kemper lives on the second floor of a building near where his car was parked and “observed an individual from the group of males enter his car and begin rummaging through it.” It remains unclear whether Kemper fired from inside his apartment or went outside to confront the group.
“He retrieved his firearm and fired several rounds at the group,” the affidavit states. “The defendant struck victim 1 and victim 2. The victims were dropped off at the hospital. Victim 1 died from his injuries and victim 2 was struck in his mid back, left flank, left arm, and right chest.”
Officers were dispatched to the scene after first being called to the hospital, where the two victims had been taken. Kemper later turned himself in and “informed them that he was the shooter,” the affidavit says. His attorney has argued in court filings that Kemper, described as a “lifelong resident,” was “acting in self-defense.”
Surveillance footage reportedly shows the group of men walking through the area beforehand and “checking car handles,” according to the affidavit, suggesting they may have been targeting multiple vehicles.
Before Kemper surrendered, investigators located his car and confirmed it “had been broken into and rummaged through,” police said in a press release. Kemper then came out of his residence, “admitted involvement in the incident and surrendered himself to officers,” the release states.
Police said homicide detectives interviewed Kemper before arresting him and forwarding the case to prosecutors. “Following an in-custody interview, homicide detectives arrested Kemper and presented their findings to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, who elected to issue charges of murder 1st degree, assault 1st degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and three counts of armed criminal action,” the release said.
Kemper is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 17. It was not immediately clear whether he had entered a plea or whether his attorney planned to pursue a formal self-defense claim at trial.