In the late hours of a Friday night in Doniphan, Missouri, a gathering of individuals at a residence on Jackson Street took a tragic turn. On that evening of August 30, 2014, 36-year-old Manuel G. Williams, a carpenter from Poplar Bluff, was shot and killed. Police were summoned to the scene at approximately 11:31 p.m. and discovered Mr. Williams in the driveway, suffering from what would be determined to be two gunshot wounds, one to his head and another to his chest.
Emergency medical services were called, but he was pronounced dead at the location.
Accounts from witnesses at the party indicated that an argument had erupted between Manuel Williams and another man, identified as 56-year-old Michael L. Futrell of Doniphan. Following the dispute, Futrell reportedly left the residence in anger, only to return a short time later armed with a handgun. It was then that he allegedly fired the weapon, striking Williams. A witness, startled by the initial shot, fled to a nearby home and heard a second gunshot soon after. Futrell was then seen running to his own house, located just a few houses away on the same street.
Law enforcement officers located Michael L. Futrell at his residence and took him into custody. During the arrest, they seized a handgun and three handgun magazines. Subsequently, Futrell was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a loaded firearm. The investigation noted the presence of alcohol at the party where the altercation and subsequent shooting occurred.
