Suspect shoots self

Staff report

new castle, pa.

A man suspected in the shooting death of a woman in the Walmart parking lot in Union Township killed himself during a standoff with police.

Carlos Harper, 27, shot himself at an apartment at 2026 Third Ave. on Monday morning in New Brighton, Pa., where police tracked him after the 11:15 p.m. Sunday murder of Mariah Jai Anderson, 22, of 103 E. Sharp St., New Castle.

Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. William Maitland said Harper’s last known address was Anderson’s residence. The two had three children together and recently had separated. Anderson had a protection-from-abuse order against Harper, Maitland said.

Harper waited for Anderson outside the Walmart, where she worked, and shot her at least four times through her car window as she was leaving, police said.

There were several witnesses, and Anderson’s friends and family told police there had been trouble between the two, Maitland said.

State police surrounded the apartment building at 7 a.m., and four other people came out, he said. They indicated Harper may have shot himself. Police went in a few hours later and discovered that to be the case, Maitland said.