East Precinct detectives today charged Keinesa Lillard, 23, with Wednesday afternoon’s shooting of a man while trying to rob him on W. Eastland Avenue near McFerrin Avenue. The victim, James Counter, 57, was critically wounded and is recovering at a local hospital.
Counter had just parked his car when a gray four-door Dodge Avenger pulled up. A woman, alleged to have been Lillard, got out and demanded Counter’s belongings at gunpoint. During the ensuring altercation, he was shot in the chest.
Hermitage Precinct undercover officers spotted the Avenger Wednesday evening and worked with an MNPD helicopter crew to follow the car. When it stopped on Felicia Street, officers moved in and took Lillard into custody. A nine millimeter pistol was recovered from her purse. Lillard was charged Wednesday night with evading arrest, drug possession and unlawful gun possession. The continuing investigation led to today’s issuance of the especially aggravated robbery warrant. Work on this case by lead Detective William Bolan is on-going.
