Joseph Miner

Lorenzo Ladiner, 39, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawfully possessing a weapon in St. Louis County. Police said Ladiner on Thursday afternoon was outside the Wagner Avenue Church of Christ, in the 6100 block of Wagner Avenue in Wellston, talking to Joseph Miner, 70, and another person. Miner then got into his car, police wrote in court documents, and the three continued to talk. Ladiner, wearing a yellow security vest, then walked away from the car while Miner and the other person continued to talk, court documents say. Ladiner then came back to Miner’s car, scanned the area, and pulled out a gun, police write. He shot Miner in the head once, police said. Ladiner then stowed the firearm back inside a bag he was carrying and walked into a nearby home, police wrote. “An officer who was nearby witnessed the events, saw (Ladiner) and arrested him,” charging documents say. Investigators found one shell casing next to Miner’s car. They also found the vest and gun inside the home Ladiner went into, charging documents say. Video surveillance captured the entire incident, police said.