Haitian Migrant Arrested in Wife's Murder, Prosecutors Allege Green Card Marriage Scheme
Authorities accuse Destino Jean-Louis of fatally shooting his wife, Latosha Ann Cooper, outside a Pennsylvania Walmart, in a case investigators believe was linked to a failed attempt to secure immigration status through marriage.
A 23-year-old migrant from Haiti has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of his estranged wife outside a Walmart in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. Prosecutors allege the killing stemmed from a marriage that was arranged to help the suspect, Destino Jean-Louis, obtain legal residency in the United States.
Latosha Ann Cooper, 45, was shot and killed on Wednesday evening as she walked to her car after finishing her shift at the store. Police responded to the scene shortly after 11:30 p.m. and found Cooper with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities believe Jean-Louis was lying in wait for Cooper, concealed in bushes and wearing a mask, before he approached her and fired multiple shots. He then allegedly fled the area. Detectives identified Jean-Louis as a suspect after learning he had previously worked at the same Walmart and had been in a relationship with Cooper.
Prosecutors stated that Jean-Louis and Cooper were married on March 31, 2025. They also allege that Jean-Louis, who had overstayed his visa after entering the U.S. in 2023 under a humanitarian program, was facing immigration issues. Court records indicate that the couple's marriage petition was declined by immigration officials, who did not believe the union was legitimate.
Relatives and coworkers told investigators that the marriage was primarily for immigration purposes, and that Cooper had an application to allow Jean-Louis to stay in the U.S. as her spouse withdrawn in July. A relative of Jean-Louis also reportedly told investigators that he had married an older woman for immigration benefits.
Following Cooper's death, authorities searched Jean-Louis's residence and discovered a bag containing 11 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, which matches the caliber of the bullets recovered from the victim. Autopsy results confirmed that Cooper died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Phone records indicate that Jean-Louis visited the Walmart multiple times in the weeks leading up to the murder. He was terminated from his job at the store due to his immigration status. Another employee reported that Jean-Louis had admitted to assaulting Cooper and had repeatedly contacted store staff for her work schedule.
Jean-Louis was arrested on Friday by the U.S. Marshal's Office and the Cheltenham Police Department. He is currently being held without bail in the Montgomery County jail. He faces charges including first-degree murder, third-degree murder, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a firearm as an illegal alien, and using a firearm with intent to cause harm. A preliminary hearing is pending, and Jean-Louis has not yet entered a plea or secured legal representation.