On the afternoon of February 15, 2021, 43-year-old Matthew Painter was shot multiple times at a Motel 6 on South Range Line Road in Joplin, Missouri, after police received reports of shots fired around noon. He was transported for medical care but died from his wounds.

Investigators identified an unnamed adult man as the shooter and concluded the shots were fired in self-defense. An autopsy was said to support that finding. No arrest was made, no charges were filed, and the criminal investigation was closed.

The motel’s safety and security practices were questioned in the aftermath, and civil action was mentioned as a possible outcome. If anyone has information about what led up to the shooting or the motel’s security on that day, please share it.