cookes.jpg

Miles Trumaine Cooke, 30, left, and Justin Asaad Cooke, 29, are both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the May 30 homicide of Ronald McGruder Jr., 35.

(Harrisburg police)

Two brothers charged in a fatal shooting that occurred four months ago in Harrisburg were spotted in the same car as the shooting victim minutes before the crime occurred, according to police.

Ronald McGruder Jr.

Miles Trumaine Cooke, 30, and Justin Asaad Cooke, 29, are both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the May 30 homicide of Ronald McGruder Jr., 35.

The brothers and McGruder were spotted together leaving Double D's Sports Bar & Grill, located in the 500 block of South 19th Street, around 1:45 a.m. the morning McGruder was killed, according to Harrisburg police Detective Richard Iachini Jr., who prepared charging documents.

The three men left the bar and got into an Audi A6 sedan, driving on South 19th Street toward the south side of the city, police said.

Later, at 1:59 a.m., a surveillance video camera stationed in the 900 block of South 13th Street captured the brothers alone in the same car driving from South Cameron Street to the intersection of South 13th and Sycamore streets, according to police.

Police reported earlier that McGruder was shot multiple times in the head around 2 a.m. in the 1100 block of Hanover Street.

The shooting scene is only a half-mile from where the Cooke brothers were captured on surveillance video.

Additionally, Iachini, the detective, reported in charging documents that he interviewed Miles Cooke the day after the shooting. At that point, Miles Cooke admitted he and his brother gave McGruder a ride from the bar, the detective said.

But he allegedly said they dropped off McGruder at the corner of South 13th and Sycamore streets and never drove on South Cameron Street. Iachini said the surveillance video later showed the statement to be a lie.

Moreover, the detective reported in charging documents that he spoke on June 3 with Justin Cooke, who gave an identical false statement on the night's events.

The detective also said he timed the drive several times from the shooting scene to the intersection where the brothers were captured on surveillance video. He reported the timeline confirms the brothers had the opportunity to commit the crime.

Charging documents filed in support of the murder charge against Miles Cooke do not indicate whether police have obtained other evidence connected to McGruder's death.

The murder charges were filed last Thursday against the Cooke brothers. It was the same day that Miles Cooke was taken into custody after police alleged that he sold crack cocaine to a confidential police informant in Swatara Township.

The drug deal occurred at some point between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, according to Swatara Township police Detective Ashley Wilt, who prepared charging documents in that case.

The detective, a member of the Dauphin County Drug Task Force, reported the transaction occurred in the 6500 block of Grayson Road.

Cooke, of the 1900 block of North Fifth Street, Harrisburg, was arraigned Thursday on felony charges of drug possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility. The latter charge stems from his alleged use of a phone to set up the crack cocaine sale.

He was arraigned Friday on the charges connected to McGruder's homicide, according to court records. He has been denied bail and is being held in Dauphin County Prison.

Harrisburg police announced earlier they are still searching for Justin Cooke, who is also facing felony charges of persons not to possess a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact Iachini at 717-255-3118 or riachini@cityofhbg.com or Officer Paula Trovy at 717-255-3158 or ptrovy@cityofhbg.com. City detectives are also available through Dauphin County dispatch at 717-558-6900.