On March 18, 2014, a tragic altercation unfolded at a residence on South 30th Road outside Humansville, Missouri, resulting in the death of 37-year-old male Daniel Scott Houston. The incident began when Steven Wayne Ball, a man from Springfield, received a distressing phone call that led him to believe his daughter and Houston, her fiancé, were involved in a physical dispute. Ball drove to the couple's home, where a confrontation ensued.
According to court documents and witness statements, the situation escalated rapidly in the driveway of the residence.
During the argument, Ball’s teenage grandson, who was also present, attempted to intervene by pulling Houston away from the scene. Witnesses reported that Houston punched the windshield of Ball's vehicle, cracking it, while challenging the older man. Amidst this chaotic exchange, Ball discharged a shotgun, striking Houston in the chest with buckshot. Law enforcement and emergency personnel responded to the scene, but Houston succumbed to his injuries.
Steven Wayne Ball was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was held on a $250,000 bond as the case proceeded through the legal system in Polk County. During the trial in September 2015, the defense argued that Ball acted in defense of himself and his daughter. After deliberating on the evidence presented regarding the events of that day, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts, clearing Ball of the charges related to Houston's death.
