On the night of December 28, 2022, a violent sequence of events unfolded on North Link Avenue in Springfield, Missouri, shattering the quiet of the residential neighborhood. Officers from the Springfield Police Department were dispatched to the 2200 block around 10:15 p.m. following reports regarding the well-being of a man who appeared to be injured. Upon their arrival at a driveway on the street, they discovered a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was hurriedly transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
As the investigation at the scene commenced, authorities received information linking the injured man to a nearby residence just a few houses away. When officers approached the second home, they observed an infant child inside who appeared to be unattended. Concerned for the child's safety, police entered the dwelling and discovered the body of 25-year-old female Mackenzie Lashley-Childers. She had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The infant found near her was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was later released to family members.
For over two years, the double homicide remained unsolved, leaving the grieving families to advocate publicly for answers and justice. Detectives continued to pursue leads, but the case seemed to stall until a significant breakthrough occurred regarding a suspect. In May 2025, a Greene County Grand Jury handed down an indictment against Walter Antwine Moore. The indictment, which became public knowledge months later, charged Moore with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Lashley-Childers and the male victim, identified as 30-year-old Deundrea Woods.
In addition to the murder charges, Walter Antwine Moore faces counts of assault, armed criminal action, and endangering the welfare of a child stemming from the tragic night. Reports indicate that Moore was already in custody at the Pettis County Jail facing federal charges unrelated to the Springfield homicides when the new indictment was revealed. While the legal proceedings are still in their early stages and a trial date in Greene County has yet to be finalized, the charges brought a measure of relief to a family that had spent years fearing the case would never move forward.
