Donald Ray Barton Jr, 51, was found with a gunshot wound to his stomach on Neals Creek Road in Bixby, Missouri, at about 8:00 p.m. on March 27, 2023. He was airlifted to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan but died shortly after arrival. Born October 25, 1971, in Washington County, Barton grew up in Boss, graduated from Iron County C-4 School in Viburnum, worked as a boilermaker with Local 27 in St. Louis and later as a carpenter, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was described as fiercely loyal to his family and devoted to friends.

Two arrests were made soon after the killing: 25-year-old Lorenzo McGee of Bixby was arrested March 29, 2023, and 48-year-old Jeffery Preston Asher of Bixby was arrested April 3, 2023; both faced first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges and were held in custody with pretrial proceedings pending. Investigators said the probe remained active and additional arrests were possible.

If anyone knew Donald or has information about what happened on Neals Creek Road that night, please share what is known.