Executive Summary
- Walter Moore indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for a 2022 double homicide.
- Victims identified as Deundrea Woods, 30, and Mackenzie Lashley-Childers, 25.
- Police discovered the victims at a North Link Avenue residence in Springfield following reports of gunfire.
- Suspect is currently held in Pettis County Jail on separate federal charges.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Greene County grand jury has indicted Walter Moore on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the December 2022 shooting deaths of Deundrea Woods and Mackenzie Lashley-Childers, according to recently released court records.
The indictment, which was originally returned in May but only recently unsealed by authorities, charges Moore with the double homicide that took place in Springfield. Officials confirmed that Moore is currently detained in the Pettis County Jail on unrelated federal charges.
According to the Springfield Police Department, officers responded to a residence in the 2200 block of North Link Avenue at approximately 10:15 p.m. on December 29, 2022. Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel discovered Woods, 30, outside the home suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Police reports indicate that upon entering the residence, officers located Lashley-Childers, 25, who had also sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators further noted that an infant found inside the home was treated for minor injuries and released to the custody of a family member.
Procedural Next Steps
The unsealing of the indictment signals a shift in the legal proceedings, allowing the state to move forward with prosecution while the defendant remains in custody on federal matters. The coordination between jurisdictions typically dictates the timeline for arraignment on the new state charges. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
