KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man accused of following his pregnant ex-girlfriend from the King of Prussia Mall to a gas station nearby and then killing her, is now facing an additional murder charge.
As Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele recounted the sequence of events leading to 31-year-old Tamara Cornelius' death, as investigators currently understand them, he made a passionate plea to anyone experiencing domestic violence to reach out for help.
"That should never happen, laying hands on a woman. If those are happening in people's relationships, I need them to get help. There's help available," Steele said.
"And I need them not to trust — because … there was a level of trust, and now we have victims of homicide."
Resources for people experiencing mental or physical domestic abuse:
— Women's Center of Montgomery County
— Victim Services Center
— Laurel House
Additional murder charge
Rafiq Thompson is now charged with the murder of an unborn child in addition to first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and gun-related and other offenses.
Steele says Thompson knew Cornelius was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of her murder, calling it heinous and chilling.
The investigation has found that Thompson sent 93 text messages, and placed 21 calls, to Cornelius. She did not answer them.
"He tried to contact her numerous times in the days preceding, texting incessantly, calling incessantly. She agreed to meet him — in a public place in the King of Prussia Mall. Whether she thought she could be safe there, I don't know — but went there," Steele said.
On Friday, April 8, Thompson invited her out to dinner, investigators say, and Cornelius agreed reluctantly.
"We don't know why she said yes. We do know that she was concerned about him and, at least in one text, made a comment that he was stalking her," Steele said. "And despite that, she went to the King of Prussia Mall."
Thompson and Cornelius met briefly at the Cheesecake Factory, but he left before the food arrived, according to the investigation.
"We know they went into the restaurant. They were there together for a short period of time. He left. She leaves about a half-hour later. He follows her, lights off. Goes to the gas station, pulls out a gun and kills her," Steele said.
He said the details of the crime and the video evidence are chilling.
"It is a heinous killing of a young woman. He picks up the gun. He fires at least four times. She, after being shot, runs, falls to the ground, stumbles, trying to get up — and he continues to shoot her, and then stands over her."
Thompson got rid of the weapon. Then investigators say, he went to a McDonalds drive-thru before abandoning his car.
Officials say Thompson was on parole for previous aggravated assault convictions and was not allowed to have a gun.
