SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A man from Springfield is charged with first-degree murder for the death of his 14-year-old stepson at their home on Thursday afternoon. Falecha Jones, the man's wife and boy's mother, told police she believes William R. Jones shot her son while he was sleeping.
The victim was Trevor Reynolds. Jones, 64, is in the Greene County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
City police say Trevor was shot in the chest at 1421 E. Livingston St. Police got the call about the shooting about 1:30 p.m. Thursday from Trevor's mother. Officers had been at the home for reports of disturbances twice on Wednesday night.
According to the probable cause statement used as the basis of the charge, Falecha Jones told police that William didn't like one of Trevor's friends and was mad because the friend was at their home on Wednesday.
The first disturbance that police checked on Wednesday occurred because the friend was in the home. Falecha said she took both boys to a different location. Later, after she and Trevor returned, her son apologized to his stepfather, but they started arguing later.
During that second argument, William had a handgun and Falecha said he threatened to kill Trevor. When police arrived that time, they took away a handgun and a rifle -- and Falecha said she thought William had no more guns. She took Trevor to a motel to get him away from William.
After she and Trevor returned to the home on Thursday morning, Falecha told police, the boy and man had no problems. Both went to their respective bedrooms and Falecha said she fell asleep watching television. She said she was awakened by a loud noise that sounded like a firework.
Falecha said she saw William standing in Trevor's bedroom hold a smoking gun. She said she saw blood on Trevor's shirt, lifted the shirt and saw a hole in his chest. She said William walked out of the room, set down the gun, and sat down and smoked a cigarette.
Trevor died at the scene. Police say they found the gun in a plastic bag on the kitchen counter.
Trevor was a 9th grader at Central High School this past school year. Counselors were at the school on Friday to be available to students grieving his death.
