Two Teens Charged With Retired St. Louis Police Officer's Murder

ST. LOUIS, MO — Two teenagers are accused of murdering retired St. Louis police officer Ralph E. Harper on Monday, the Post-Dispatch reports. The 15- and 16-year-old boys were charged with second-degree murder and attempted robbery in juvenile court. The 15-year-old was also charged with tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. A judge is currently weighing whether to try the teens, whose identities have not been released, as adults.

A third teen, 17-year-old Julian Mathews, was also arrested and charged with motor vehicle tampering and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. He was not involved in the robbery or shooting, police said.

Harper, 67, was killed Monday morning just after he dropped his wife off for work, according to police. The retired sergeant exchanged gunfire with several suspects during an attempted robbery and was fatally wounded in the process.

Harper had 35 years of service with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and had most recently served in the juvenile division. He retired in 2007.

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"This hits very close to home," Police Chief John Hayden said Monday morning, his voice cracking with emotion. "I knew the sergeant personally. After coming to the hospital — he was just pronounced deceased a few moments ago. So this is a very challenging time."

He called Harper a wonderful person with a warm, compassionate personality.

Police arrested the three teens after they dropped off the 16-year-old at a local hospital. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the wrist, police said. Matthews and the 15-year-old then fled the hospital in a stolen SUV, but crashed a short time later and were taken into custody.

Matthews is held on $30,000 cash-only bond and will be on house arrest with a GPS ankle bracelet when released. No attorney is listed.

As in every case, charges are merely accusations, not proof of guilt.

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