A man, who was reportedly distraught over the garnishment of his wages for child support, killed his former girlfriend and later gunned down two people at Finniger’s Catering in the city’s West End.
According to St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa, Herbert L. Chalmers killed Sylvia Haynes at about 10:30 a.m. at the Vaughn Towers public housing complex.
Chalmers then went to the Wal-Mart on St. Charles Rock Road where he purchased bullets for a 9mm pistol that police think he used in the first slaying.
Chalmers entered Finneger’s at about 2 p.m., where he confronted Cleo Finninger, 79, the wife of the catering firm’s owner, Charles Finniger.
He reportedly shot her and then asked where the owner was.
An employee had wheeled the wheelchair-bound Finneger into a walk-in freezer.
Outside the cooler, the gunfire continued.
Finneger’s daughter, Christine Politte, 44, of St. Charles was killed and Patty Meir, 48, was wounded.
Minutes later, Chalmers took his own life in the parking lot outside the catering firm.
Police said Chalmers had been an employee at Finneger’s, but had not reported to work for more than a week. He had arrived at work on Tuesday morning, but was not allowed to resume his duties.
He left the business and apparently headed to St. Louis to confront Haynes, who was disabled and ill, at her apartment.
