A 23-year-old Haitian immigrant, Destino Jean-Louis, has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of 45-year-old Latosha Ann Cooper outside a Walmart in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred on October 21, as reported by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources, Jean-Louis entered the United States legally on November 24, 2023, via Fort Lauderdale International Airport. He arrived through the Biden administration’s parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. However, his legal status was revoked on June 12, 2025.
The DHS reported that on October 23, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Jean-Louis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is currently under investigation by Montgomery County authorities for homicide. While initially entering the United States legally, Jean-Louis remained past the allowed duration, violating immigration laws. The DHS stated that such actions have consequences under the country’s legal framework.
Investigators have alleged that Jean-Louis targeted Cooper after an immigration-related marriage agreement failed. The two individuals met while working at Walmart in 2024 and later married, reportedly to help Jean-Louis obtain a green card. However, Cooper withdrew from the process after Jean-Louis’s application was denied in July, and she subsequently cut off contact.
Court documents indicate that Jean-Louis attempted to contact Walmart employees to learn Cooper’s work schedule and allegedly waited for her shift to end on October 21. An eyewitness, a co-worker, recounted that she was speaking with Cooper in the parking lot when a masked man approached and shot Cooper. Jean-Louis reportedly hid nearby before the attack.
Cellphone records placed Jean-Louis at the incident location, with investigators stating he had been present on several nights leading up to the shooting. Jean-Louis faces charges including first-degree and third-degree murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and use of a firearm by an alien. He is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Attempts to reach Walmart and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office for comments were unsuccessful. This report includes contributions from Robert McGreevy of Fox News Digital. Story tips can be directed to [email protected].