Family members of three people fatally shot in a St. Paul apartment on Friday say they believe an intense custody dispute over an 18-month-old girl “definitely” played a part in the slayings.
“There were some confrontations leading up to what happened, and they were about the baby, among other things,” said family spokesman Louis Hernandez. St. Paul police are still investigating the shooting and haven’t disclosed any details about a possible motive.
The shooting happened about 1 a.m. Friday at an apartment building in the 1600 block of English Street in St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood. When officers arrived, they found Maria McIntosh, 19; her sister, Olivia McIntosh, 17; and their father, Wade McIntosh, 47, dead. The girls’ mother, Anita Sprotsy, was critically injured in the shooting.
Family members say Sprotsy was shot in the bed where she often slept with Cheyenne, her granddaughter. Cheyenne, Maria’s 18-month-old daughter, was missing immediately after the shooting.
Investigators later found the toddler’s father, Jeffrey Jamaile Taylor, 20, whom they named as a suspect, dead of a gunshot wound in a wooded area southeast of the apartment.
Also shortly after the shooting, investigators found Cheyenne in a nearby shed with a man identified as Taylor’s half brother, 19-year-old Jeffery Arkis Taylor. He was taken into custody and booked into the Ramsey County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, and aiding and abetting murder and attempted murder. The girl was not injured.
In a statement Sunday, Hernandez, a nephew of Anita Sprotsy, called the sisters “inseparable” and their father “devoted.”
He said Sunday night that Sprotsy was in critical but stable condition at Regions Hospital.
The family seemed optimistic about Sprotsy’s recovery, saying.”Anita will fight and recover, because that is who she is. She has always shared her strength as a sister, mother, aunt and friend. Her laugh is contagious, and for those of you that shared a laugh with her, you know how epic and intoxicating it could be. She is filled with life, love and spirit. Anita will need help digesting this tragic incident, and through prayer and good faith, as we know, she will overcome.”
Sprotsy’s sister and niece, who lived in the same apartment building, heard the gunshots and were the ones who found the victims.
Hernandez asked for people to pray for his family, not only for those who were killed, but also for those who loved them, especially “my aunt and cousin who found their family. They need as much prayer and support as possible.”
In his statement, Hernandez said the family was grateful for the “outpouring of love and support” from the community, family, and friends.
“As a last plea” Hernandez wrote, “we ask that you hold those you love, hold your blessings to your chest, because as easily as they are giving, they can be taken.”
A vigil was held at Phalen Park Sunday night to remember the victims. Mourners brought flowers and candles they set beside photographs of the family.
Donations can be made to U.S. Bank-Mcintosh Family Relief Fund or to a GoFundMe relief fund.