Couple Meets Online, Goes On Crime Spree

For two young Peninsula residents, an online dating website was not only a great way to find romance, but also proved to be the perfect place to find a crime spree partner.

David Charles Cooper, 18, of Redwood City, and Keyana Deseriee McLish, 19, of San Pablo, met online recently and started dating.  In March, just a few weeks after their romance began, the two decided to go on a Peninsula crime spree together - she driving the getaway car, and he robbing the victims, armed with a shotgun.

In one of their crimes, Cooper chased down a San Mateo man who was walking home to his apartment. The victim managed to reach the lobby of his apartment building, but Cooper caught up with him, rifled through his pockets, and stole his wallet and cell phone. The victim reported seeing his robber run away and then hop into a red car driven by a second person.

Six days later, a man was walking down San Mateo Street in San Mateo when he noticed a red car driven by a female was slowly trailing him - and a man was following him on foot. 

When Cooper saw the man had noticed him, he reportedly yelled at the victim, ran up to him, put his shotgun to his head and demanded money. Cooper stole the man's wallet and then hopped into the red car.

This time, however, the victim was able to get a better look at his robbers. He told authorities the female driving the car was African-American and wore "distinctive hoop earrings," which he described.

Eventually, those hoop earrings would get the young couple in trouble.

Two days later, on March 11, it appeared Cooper and McLish hadn't yet tired of San Mateo as the hot-spot for their crimes, because San Mateo Police officers on patrol spotted their red Honda Accord driving the streets, with a young African-American woman wearing "distinctive hoop earrings" that matched the description given by their most recent victim behind the wheel.

The officers conducted a traffic stop on the car and found that the passenger, Cooper, had a shotgun tucked into his pants.

Both victims positively identified Cooper as the man who had robbed them at gunpoint.

Both Cooper and McLish are both in custody in San Mateo County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, and are expected to appear in South San Francisco felony court later this month for preliminary hearings on a possible trial.

Also on Belmont and San Carlos Patch:

• Pet Food Express Coming to Belmont

Want to share your opinions with the Belmont? Start your own blog.

Want to share your opinions with San Carlos? Start your own blog.