Jonathan Emerson Powell

On December 18, 2019, police in Joplin, Missouri, were dispatched to the Westside Mini Storage facility located at 1717 South Roosevelt Avenue following reports of a disturbance. Upon arrival at approximately 12:15 p.m., officers discovered 36-year-old Jonathan Emerson Powell suffering from gunshot wounds. Powell, a male resident of Joplin, was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries later that day. An autopsy performed the following day in Springfield confirmed the cause of death as gunshot wounds, and the case was officially ruled a homicide.

Investigators initially sought the public's assistance in locating a black 2005 or 2006 Nissan Altima seen on security footage entering and leaving the facility around the time of the shooting. For several months, authorities worked to identify a suspect in the attack, which had occurred while Powell was working in his storage units. The investigation eventually pointed toward a specific individual, and a motive rooted in jealousy emerged. It was alleged that the shooter had confronted Powell due to communications Powell had been having with a woman connected to the suspect.

In August 2020, charges were filed against Mason Scott Roach, who was 24 years old at the time. Roach was accused of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Powell's death. Authorities located Roach in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, where he was already being held in jail on unrelated charges. He had reportedly been on the run for weeks following the shooting before his capture in Oklahoma. He was subsequently extradited to Missouri to face the charges related to the homicide.

The legal proceedings concluded years later in early 2024. In January of that year, Mason Roach, then 27, accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the charge of second-degree murder. During the sentencing hearing held in April 2024, the court imposed the maximum penalty allowed under the plea agreement. Mason Roach was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the killing of Jonathan Emerson Powell.