A house party in Springfield, Missouri, ended in homicide when 19-year-old Lavontae Bennett was shot and killed in the early morning hours of June 22, 2025. Police were called to a West Webster Street residence at about 4:14 a.m. and found Bennett suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. No weapons were found near his body.

The gathering had been hosted by 22-year-old Bodee Melton of Willard. Court documents say a disturbance started earlier outside the house after a guest reportedly flirted with Bennett’s mother. Firearms were displayed during that initial argument but the situation seemed to calm, and Bennett and another man went back inside to speak with Melton. Witnesses reported Melton pointed a gun at the two unarmed men, who had their hands up; Melton allegedly shot Bennett several times in the torso and again in the head after he fell.

Melton fled but surrendered to the Greene County Jail later that day and was initially booked on second-degree murder. The prosecutor later upgraded charges to first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. Does anyone have information about the events that night or knew Lavontae?