Breiana Ray, Gwendolyn Ray and Aiden Lawson
May 6, 2012
Man Charged In Shooting, Fire That Left 3 Dead
SOUTH ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) - A man is behind bars after confessing to killing his ex-girlfriend, her mother and his own son.
Firefighters found two women, a mother and her daughter, shot to death inside a burning south St. Louis home, Saturday. A 10-month-old boy also died from smoke inhalation. Authorities charged his father with their murders Sunday. The boy’s sister, 3, was hospitalized in critical condition.
Police identified the victims as Aiden Lawson, 10 months; his grandmother, Gwendolyn Ray, 50, and Aiden’s mother, Breiana Ray, 22. Breiana Ray was Gwendolyn Ray’s daughter. Breiana was Gwendolyn’s daughter. The two women and two children lived together in the upstairs apartment of a 3 unit building in the 2100 block of South Jefferson.
“It was everything I had. It was all I had. It was all I had,” said Malika Ray, Breiana’s sister, sobbing at the scene Sunday morning.
Neighbors noticed flames and smoke around 10 o’clock Saturday night.
“We just saw the flames, so we called 911. It was kind of scary. We knew there were people living there,” said Orlando Hidalgo, who owns the Fritanga restaurant across the street from the Rays’ home.
He said there were reports of gunshots before the fire, but no one had any clue they might have come from the same building.
Breiana Ray’s daughter, McKenzie Ray, 3, survived. She was hospitalized in critical condition for smoke inhalation, but relatives said doctors expected her to recover.
The Rays’ was the only unit to burn. No one else was hurt. But the landlord told the other tenants the building would be condemned and they would have to move immediately. There wasn’t much worth keeping from the
Rays’ burned apartment beyond a couple of soot-covered photos relatives retrieved. Gwendolyn Ray was supposed to visit her dear friend, Debra Darrough, shortly before she died.
“She was on her way to my house. She never made it. She just celebrated her 50th birthday on [May] 4th,” Darrough said.
“Just nice people. They stay upstairs. I talk with him for awhile. They looked happy every day,” said Randy Carter, who lived below the Rays.
“It’s very bad. I feel very bad. I’m going to miss them. I always saw them. I always say the girl. I always see the lady. I’m going to miss them a lot,” Hidalgo said.
“She [Gwendolyn] will be missed – that smile,” Darrough said, breaking down in tears and walking away.
Police said Eric Lawson, 23, of St. Louis confessed.
Authorities charged him with 12 counts Sunday, including 3 counts of murder, arson, armed criminal action, and endangering the welfare of a child.
http://fox2now.com/2012/05/06/three-...shooting-fire/
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