Destino Jean-Louis, 23, has been charged with the murder of Latosha Ann Cooper, a 45-year-old Walmart employee who was fatally shot in the parking lot of Cedarbrook Plaza in Cheltenham Township on the evening of October 21.
Louis, a Haitian national who allegedly overstayed his visa, was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Service in Philadelphia at approximately 9:00am on Friday, October 23, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Cheltenham Chief of Police Richard Schaffer said Jean-Louis is charged with First-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder and related firearm charges.
At approximately 11:30pm on Wednesday, Cheltenham Township police were dispatched to 1000 S. Easton Road for a reported shooting. Police found Cooper lying next to her Nissan sedan with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cheltenham Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives launched a joint homicide investigation. Through interviews and surveillance video detectives determined that Cooper and a coworker walked out of the Walmart after their shift and were standing outside talking when a masked man walked up to the victim and shot her. He then ran across Cheltenham Avenue into Philadelphia County. Video surveillance also showed the masked shooter standing near a bush with a direct line of sight to the entrance of the store, waiting for the victim to leave.
Detectives further learned through interviews and record searches that Jean-Louis formerly worked at that Walmart with the victim and had a romantic relationship. Records showed that the victim and Jean-Louis were issued a marriage license on March 31, 2025. Detectives also learned that Jean-Louis was having immigration issues, and a recent fallout between the victim and Jean-Louis further amplified these issues.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide. An examination of two projectiles recovered at the autopsy were determined to be .22 caliber ammunition.
On Friday, members of the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Jean-Louis at a residence in Philadelphia following an immigration investigation. A search warrant was executed for the residence by Montgomery County Detectives along with Philadelphia and Cheltenham Police, and a sandwich bag containing 11 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition was recovered.
Jean-Louis’ cell phone records showed multiple trips between the Philadelphia residence and the Walmart, the victim’s workplace, in the weeks leading up to the murder and also placed the defendant in the area of the Walmart parking lot at the time of the murder.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office formally charged Louis with murder Friday evening, while he remained in federal custody. He remained in federal custody through the weekend before being transferred to the custody of Cheltenham Township Police on Monday, October 26.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including a possible motive and the relationship between Louis and the victim, were not detailed in the information released, the DA said.
According to Cooper’s Facebook profile, she had worked at that Walmart for 22 years, most recently as a stocking coach.
Louis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.