Incident Overview
Shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2026, Lake Saint Louis Police Department officers responded to a call of shots fired at the 8500 block of Orf Road in Lake Saint Louis, St. Charles County, Missouri. The location was an outbuilding where a witness operates a lawn care business, situated along the Orf Road commercial corridor.
According to police and multiple news reports, a gathering was taking place at the outbuilding when Rony Vasquez Jimenez, 39, and Ranferi Rojas-Solano, 40, both coworkers in the roofing and construction trade, got into an argument over $400 owed from a roofing job the two men had worked on together. The argument escalated into a physical fight, with several punches thrown between the two men.
After the physical altercation, Rojas-Solano separated himself from the group and walked to his vehicle — a black Jeep Grand Cherokee parked in the area. A woman who had ridden with Rojas-Solano asked him not to escalate things as he walked to the vehicle. Despite this, Rojas-Solano retrieved a firearm from the Jeep and walked back to the outbuilding, where multiple shots were then heard by witnesses outside.
Vasquez Jimenez sustained gunshot injuries to his torso and leg. A cell phone belonging to one of the witnesses inadvertently captured audio of the incident, including the argument followed by approximately 10 gunshots. Vasquez Jimenez was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. When a witness asked Rojas-Solano if he had shot the victim, he responded, "I didn't hit him."
After the shooting, Rojas-Solano held the lawn care business owner at gunpoint and forced her into his Jeep. He then drove with the kidnapped witness to Collinsville, Illinois. During the drive, Rojas-Solano repeatedly stated, "I killed that man." The business owner was eventually released.
A Life Lost Over $400
Rony Vasquez Jimenez, 39, was a worker in the roofing and construction trade. He was killed during a dispute over $400 owed from a roofing job — a sum that cost him his life at a Saturday night gathering among coworkers. His family identified him to First Alert 4 news. A second victim — the lawn care business owner — was kidnapped at gunpoint by Rojas-Solano after the shooting and forced to ride in his vehicle to Collinsville, Illinois, during which the suspect repeatedly confessed to the killing. Her name has not been publicly released.
Suspect At Large - Charges Filed March 2026
Ranferi Rojas-Solano, 40, of St. Charles, Missouri, has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action by the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. He remains at large as of the latest reports. Upon arrest, he will be held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
Investigators determined that after the shooting, Rojas-Solano contacted family members in Illinois, Arkansas, and Mexico, and sent threatening messages to witnesses warning them not to contact police. Authorities believe he may have fled the state or country.
St. Charles County Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 cash reward for tips leading to Rojas-Solano's arrest. Tips can be called in to Lake Saint Louis Police Detective Sergeant Hurwitz at 636-625-8018.
Location & Context
The shooting occurred at the 8500 block of Orf Road in Lake Saint Louis, a suburban community in St. Charles County, Missouri. The Orf Road corridor is a commercial area near the intersection of Ronald Reagan Drive, containing retailers including Dierbergs Markets, Lowe's, and AutoZone. The specific location was an outbuilding used to operate a lawn care business.
The incident took place at approximately 11:00 p.m. on a Saturday night during an after-hours gathering at the commercial outbuilding. Lake Saint Louis is generally considered a relatively safe suburban community, making this shooting particularly notable for the area.
Investigators confirmed that license plate readers in the Orf Road corridor captured the suspect's black Jeep Grand Cherokee in the area at the time of the shooting, indicating that automated surveillance infrastructure exists along this commercial corridor. However, no security cameras at the outbuilding itself were referenced in reporting — the only recording of the incident was audio inadvertently captured on a witness's cell phone.
Property Details
Property Type: Outbuilding used as a lawn care business along the Orf Road commercial corridor in Lake Saint Louis, St. Charles County
Timing: The incident occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. on a Saturday night during an after-hours gathering at the commercial outbuilding.
Surveillance: License plate readers in the Orf Road corridor captured the suspect's vehicle, but no security cameras at the outbuilding itself were referenced in reporting.
Incident Timeline
Argument Begins: Rojas-Solano and Vasquez Jimenez argue over $400 owed from a roofing job at a gathering in the outbuilding on Orf Road.
Physical Fight: The argument escalates to a physical altercation, with several punches thrown between the two men.
Suspect Retrieves Firearm: Rojas-Solano walks to his Jeep Grand Cherokee. A female companion asks him not to escalate. He retrieves a gun from the vehicle.
~11:00 PM - Shooting: Rojas-Solano returns to the outbuilding and fires approximately 10 shots, striking Vasquez Jimenez in the torso and leg.
Kidnapping: Rojas-Solano forces the lawn care business owner into his Jeep at gunpoint and drives to Collinsville, Illinois, repeatedly stating "I killed that man."
Charges Filed: The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney files first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges. Rojas-Solano remains at large.
Area Incidents
June 2023: A man was shot multiple times near Hawk Ridge Trail and Ronald Reagan Drive — approximately half a mile from the Orf Road shooting location — in what appeared to be a road rage incident.
December 2023: An officer-involved shooting at 2400 block of Fox Bridge Court, Lake Saint Louis. Wesley Ingrim, 27, was shot and killed by police after firing shots at a park and confronting officers with two guns.
October 2024: A man was charged with murder after another man was found dead in his Lake Saint Louis home.
Workplace & Commercial Property Security Standards
Workplaces and commercial properties — including small businesses and outbuildings used for business operations — face security responsibilities that may be heightened when the property is used for after-hours gatherings. OSHA workplace violence prevention guidelines and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have identified several measures commonly recommended for these environments:
Surveillance Systems
NIOSH recommends that even small businesses maintain security cameras covering work areas, parking areas, and entry points. Surveillance systems deter criminal activity and provide critical evidence when incidents occur.
Weapons Policies
In settings where workers have access to personal vehicles, workplace violence prevention protocols recommend policies that either prohibit weapons on premises — including in vehicles parked on the property — or create physical separation between parking areas and work or gathering spaces.
Conflict Resolution & De-Escalation
OSHA workplace violence prevention guidelines recommend that employers train employees in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. Construction and trades workers are recognized as facing elevated workplace violence risks, making these protocols particularly important.
Adequate Lighting
NIOSH recommends adequate lighting in parking areas and work areas, even at small business properties. Proper lighting deters criminal activity and helps individuals identify potential threats, particularly during after-hours use of the property.
Workplace Violence Prevention Policies
OSHA recommends that employers develop written workplace violence prevention policies that include procedures for handling disputes, reporting threats, and responding to escalating situations. These policies are especially important in trades and construction work environments where financial disputes may arise.
After-Hours Property Security
When commercial properties are used for gatherings outside normal business hours, security industry standards recommend enhanced measures including controlled access, surveillance, and designated responsible parties for monitoring the property and its occupants.
Potential Negligent Security Considerations
Under Missouri law, property owners and business operators have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. This duty may extend to implementing security measures to protect workers and visitors from foreseeable criminal acts, particularly when the property is used for gatherings where interpersonal disputes may arise and vehicles with potential access to weapons are nearby.
Several factors may warrant examination regarding this incident:
1 Firearm Access From Vehicle
The suspect walked to his vehicle, retrieved a firearm, and returned to the outbuilding to commit the shooting. Whether there was any protocol, barrier, or physical separation between the gathering area and the parking area that could have created a buffer is a relevant question. In workplace violence prevention, separation between vehicles — where weapons may be stored — and work or gathering areas is a recognized security consideration.
2 De-Escalation Window
Multiple witnesses observed the escalation from argument to physical fight to the suspect walking to his vehicle. A female companion explicitly asked Rojas-Solano not to escalate. This represents a significant window during which intervention could have occurred — from the initial argument, through the fistfight, to the suspect's walk to his vehicle and return. Whether anyone present was trained in de-escalation or conflict resolution, and whether the property had any protocols for handling disputes, are relevant considerations.
3 After-Hours Property Use
The shooting occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. on a Saturday at an outbuilding used as a business. Whether after-hours gatherings were a regular occurrence at this location, and if so, what security measures were in place for these gatherings — such as surveillance, lighting, or access control — are questions that may be relevant to the property owner's or operator's duty of care.
4 Surveillance Gaps
The only recording of the incident was audio inadvertently captured on a witness's cell phone. The property appears to have had no surveillance cameras, despite being located in a commercial corridor served by municipal license plate readers. Whether cameras or other monitoring equipment were present, recommended, or required for this type of property is a relevant consideration.
5 Secondary Crime Prevention
After the shooting, the suspect was able to force a witness into his vehicle at gunpoint and drive away — committing a kidnapping in addition to the homicide. The absence of security measures, surveillance, or immediate law enforcement response allowed this secondary crime to occur. Whether adequate security could have prevented the kidnapping or facilitated a faster law enforcement response is a relevant factor.
Missouri Premises Liability & Workplace Safety
Under Missouri premises liability law, property owners and business operators may be held liable for negligent security if they fail to implement reasonable measures to protect visitors and workers from foreseeable criminal acts on their premises. The foreseeability of criminal violence is evaluated based on factors including prior incidents, the nature of the business activity, and the adequacy of security measures. Additionally, OSHA workplace violence prevention guidelines establish that employers have a general duty to provide a safe workplace, which includes addressing foreseeable risks of violence — particularly in trades and construction environments where financial disputes and interpersonal conflicts are recognized risk factors.
If you or a loved one was affected by a similar incident, the experienced negligent security attorneys featured on this site offer free, confidential consultations to help you understand your legal options.