A loving dad-of-three was reportedly shot de@d after offering a ride to a female hitchhiker, according to police.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police say William Palmer was shot and killed on the morning of Sunday, February 1, after he offered Brittany Rivoire, 36, a lift to take her to a warming shelter in St Louis, Missouri.
However, William’s good gesture turned into a nightmare when Brittany reportedly pulled a gun on him and shot him de@d.
William’s lifeless body was discovered just before 2.30am on Sunday and he was pronounced de@d at the scene.
His fiancée Riyen Jones said Palmer had been collecting scrap metal when he spotted Rivoire on the side of the road. He was with a friend when he first stopped to pick up Rivorire before her allegedly strange behavior prompted his friend to leave, First Alert 4 reports.
Riyen revealed that she had previously warned William not to pick up strangers as she feared for his safety.
She said: “I used to tell him all the time not to pick up people off the side of the road anymore. He did it a lot. If he saw someone walking, he was picking them up and taking them as far as he could.
“For somebody to take him for granted when all he was doing was helping her and then to do it to basically take his truck is, I can’t wrap my head around it.”
Police say Rivoire was caught on camera shooting Palmer in the head before she drove his truck a few blocks before abandoning it. She hitched a ride with another unsuspecting driver before being arrested, police said.
Rivoire is facing a slew of charges, including first-degree murd£r, unlawful possession of a firearm, armed criminal action and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. She remains in jail without bond, records show.
Palmer’s family spoke of his good character, saying he was known for helping strangers and often went out of his way to give rides to those in need. Riyen described her beloved fiancé as “the glue” to their family, adding that he was “just a giver.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Riyen reads: “William Palmer was the nicest, big-hearted, helpful, and all-around great person, loving father, great friend, just a wonderful person. Even if you can’t donate, if you could share, it would be awesome.”
Their GoFundMe has raised just over $2,500 of its $3,000 goal.
