PINE LAWN • Devarick Thompson, 28, attracted attention to himself when he refused to pay his fare at the MetroLink station near Interstate 70 and Hanley, officials said. The next thing he knew, he was getting arrested on suspicion of murder.

James Conners, a reserve police officer for four years in Pine Lawn, was working a secondary job at the commuter station Tuesday when he spotted Thompson, who was sought in the June 16 slaying of Joey Richmond, 26, said Pine Lawn police Lt. Dan O'Connor.

Thompson's mug shot has been pasted around the station for months. O'Connor said he believes that helped Conners recognize him.

"He didn't want to tell him his name, so he asked him, 'Where do you live?' And as soon as he said 'Ravenswood,' Officer Conners told him he was under arrest for murder," O'Connor said.

Pine Lawn police allege that Thompson shot Richmond, of St. Louis, once in the forehead and three times in the torso in a home in the 4200 block of Ravenswood Avenue, the same block where Thompson lived. Multiple witnesses were in the home and provided information to police, O'Connor said.

About seven hours later that day, Brian Brooks, 47, was gunned down near his home in the 4000 block of Beachwood Avenue.

Thompson's stepfather, Edro Odum, 50, who lives on the block where Richmond was killed, has since confessed to killing Brooks, police say, and has been charged with first-degree murder. The Major Case Squad assisted with the investigation into Brooks' murder. Police said they believe Odum killed Brooks because Brooks provided information to police about Richmond's slaying.

A warrant for Thompson's arrest on charges of armed criminal action and first-degree murder was issued July 30.

O'Connor said police suspected that Thompson had fled to Georgia but may have returned to kill other witnesses to Richmond's slaying.

Richmond's mother, Carlas Gillette-Johnson, spoke in a Post-Dispatch story July 23 of being upset that the small Pine Lawn department chose to handle her son's death without outside investigative help.

"I'm at ease now," she said Wednesday. "I now know the police of Pine Lawn have done their job."

O'Connor said he knew his department could do it, saying, "It's been Pine Lawn on this to the end."

No trial date for Thompson has been set.