Inset: Melinda Grigsby (Macon County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The Macon County Jail in Macon, Missouri (Google Maps).
A heated argument over a phone’s content during dinnertime in Missouri led to a tragic incident where a woman allegedly shot a man in the chest, law enforcement reports.
Melinda Grigsby, aged 39, now faces charges of first-degree murder, as revealed by court documents sourced by Law&Crime.
Currently, Grigsby is detained without the option of bail at the Macon County Jail.
The incident occurred on January 23rd in Ethel, where Grigsby was present at a residence with 51-year-old Lawrence Jackson, as reported by KTVO, a local affiliate of ABC and CBS. Several minors were also present in the home while Grigsby was preparing dinner.
The tension of the evening revolved around disputes concerning “relationship issues” linked to content on Jackson’s cell phone, according to a probable cause document filed in Macon County court. As Jackson attempted to communicate with Grigsby, she allegedly struck him twice in the face with a spatula, resulting in cuts and bruises, according to police accounts.
The situation escalated when Jackson reportedly put Grigsby in a headlock, witnessed by one of the minors who intervened by pushing on Jackson’s head, prompting him to release her, as detailed in the charging papers. Jackson then moved to the living room, while Grigsby completed cooking and sent the children to their room.
The suspect then followed Jackson into the living room, and they continued to talk and argue, authorities said. “Grigsby then got up and grabbed her purse, which contained a firearm, and went into the master bedroom,” checking the magazine and adding more ammo to it from the bedroom closet, police allege.
The court document stated that “one of the juveniles heard Grigsby banging on the walls and door while she was inside the master bedroom.” Then Jackson allegedly walked to the bedroom and they started to argue there.
“Grigsby stated that she dropped ammo on the floor when she had loaded the magazine to the firearm,” the probable cause statement reads.
“[Jackson] asked her where the gun was,” authorities went on. “She then drew the firearm and discharged it, striking [Jackson] in the chest.”
One of the minors reportedly heard Jackson say, “Why, Melinda, why?”
Deputies with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home just before 6 p.m. and found Jackson “with a single gunshot wound to the chest.”
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Grigsby was arrested and booked into jail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
The court document did not detail the relationship between the victim and suspect.
