Woman shot man dead after cooking supper and arguing about ‘the material on his cell phone’: Deputies

Melinda Grigsby, 39, faces first-degree murder charges in Missouri for fatally shooting 51-year-old Lawrence Jackson during a domestic dispute over phone content related to their relationship.​

Incident Overview

On January 23, 2026, at a home in Ethel, Macon County, the argument escalated while Grigsby cooked dinner with minors present. She allegedly struck Jackson with a spatula, causing facial injuries; he responded with a headlock until a minor intervened. Grigsby then retrieved a gun from her purse, loaded extra ammunition, and shot Jackson in the chest after he asked its location—one minor heard him say, “Why, Melinda, why?”​

Legal Proceedings

Macon County deputies found Jackson dead at the scene around 6 p.m. Grigsby was arrested that day and formally charged on January 30 with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. She remains in Macon County Jail without bond, with her next court date set for Monday.

Aftermath

Multiple juveniles witnessed parts of the altercation but were unharmed. Authorities have not specified Grigsby and Jackson’s exact relationship beyond the domestic context.​

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