Haitian Man Charged in Walmart Parking Lot Murder

2 min read

A former Walmart employee from Haiti has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his estranged wife in the parking lot of a Pennsylvania store. Destino Jean Louis, 23, is accused of killing 45-year-old Latosha Ann Cooper on October 21, 2026, in the Walmart in Cheltenham, where both had worked.

Marriage and Immigration Allegations

Jean Louis and Cooper were in a romantic relationship and married in April 2025 after obtaining a marriage license in March. Investigators believe the marriage was intended to help Jean Louis gain legal status in the United States. He had arrived in the country from Haiti in 2023 through a humanitarian program that was later terminated.

Events Leading to the Shooting

Cooper ended contact with Jean Louis and later withdrew a petition that would have allowed him to remain in the country as her spouse. The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m., according to a criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit. A coworker reported seeing a masked man approach Cooper and shoot her. The victim was found with a gunshot wound to the head, and the gunman fled on foot toward Philadelphia.

Investigation and Evidence

Surveillance footage showed the suspect waiting near a bush with a view of the Walmart entrance before Cooper came outside. Autopsy results confirmed she died from multiple gunshot wounds. Employees told investigators that Jean Louis admitted to physically assaulting Cooper and claimed such disrespect was not tolerated in his country. Cellphone records indicated multiple trips between his residence and the Walmart in the weeks leading up to the shooting.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

U.S. marshals arrested Jean Louis on October 23 at a home in Philadelphia on immigration violations. During a search, investigators found a bag containing 11 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, matching the projectiles recovered from Cooper. Jean Louis denied killing Cooper and claimed he was at home when the shooting occurred. He is currently being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

claire.thomson