Two charged in Tuesday shooting

By Jenna Wilson

Two men have been charged in connection to a shooting Tuesday morning near the 1300 block of West Joseph Street.

Jorge G. Lara Ramirez, 23, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree assault.

Macio Harris, 26, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

According to probable cause statements, Ramirez got into a verbal altercation with a coworker during his shift earlier in the week and was suspended.

At about 7 a.m on Tuesday, a security guard at the business where Ramirez works located a black 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicle, belonging to Harris, waiting outside before the vehicle fled, according to the probable cause statement. The statement said that Ramirez was waiting for the aforementioned coworker to get off work.

The driver of the vehicle, Macio Harris, along with Ramirez and another occupant, drove to a residence located in St. Joseph, where shots were fired approximately 14 times. An adult female was shot in the face while inside the home, according to the probable cause statement. Children were also in the home.

Shell casings were found outside the home and video surveillance revealed the suspect vehicle matched that of Harris’ vehicle. Police also identified a loaded firearm located on Ramirez’s person matching the caliber round shot at the victim’s residence.

Both Harris and the third occupant confirmed in statements that Ramirez directed them to the victim’s residence and fired numerous shots at the home before discussing his plan to “finish the job” and try another location for the coworker.

The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Both Ramirez and Harris are set to appear in front of Circuit Judge Chad Gaddie at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 5.