Six individuals, including three juveniles and three adults, have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of 40-year-old Larisha Thompson and a related burglary in Lancaster County, with the assailants' ages ranging from 13 to 21 years old. As reported by WBTV, the victim was found deceased in her Honda Accord on the night of May 2 after family members initiated a search when they lost contact with her. The details of the case, as released by law enforcement, indicate that the adults among the suspects are Asael Torres-Chirinos, 21; Jarby Ramos-Odari, 18; and Jeyson Pineda-Salgado, age 17. Each of the three faces charges of murder, attempted armed robbery, and second-degree burglary, held in jail without bail.
Authorities have found a thread linking the tragic killing to an attempted burglary two days prior at Van Wyck Mart, approximately 10 minutes away from where Thompson's car was located. WCCB Charlotte revealed, using surveillance video and ballistics evidence, it was ascertained that the same 9mm handgun was involved in both incidents—a fact corroborated by digital evidence placing Torres-Chirinos at the scenes of both crimes, and his car was identified during the investigation.
During the night of the homicide, the suspects were allegedly occupying Torres-Chirinos' car which they drove near Thompson's Accord on Riverside Road, when according to QC News, Torres-Chirinos purportedly fired shots at the victim from the front passenger seat. Efforts by the assailants to enter Thompson's vehicle were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, spawning an investigation that eventually led to multiple arrests including the seizure of the weapon used at Torres-Chirinos' residence.
Sheriff Barry Faile has been quoted regarding the heinous nature of the crime, saying "This shooting defies any sense of decency in a civilized society," and highlights an indiscriminate act of violence against a woman merely going about her business. The sheriff also noted that while detainers have been placed on the six suspects by the Department of Homeland Security, this does not ensure immediate deportation before their court hearings; instead, it implies custody by Homeland Security if they are released before the resolution of their charges. Faile emphasized, "Our intention is that all six remain detained until they face the full weight of our judicial system" and accredited the diligent work of law enforcement agencies and SLED for their role in the swift apprehension of the suspects, as per WBTV.
