SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield Police have released new information regarding a homicide at Old Monterey apartments on Tuesday morning.
Police have released the probable cause statement, providing details on what led up to officers arresting De'Andre Jonas, 23, for first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse, and other charges.
Investigators say Jonas's roommate called police, reporting that he had shot and killed his friend, which turned out to be 21-year-old Delquan Scott. Jonas's roommate placed that call from another home nearby, police say.
The roommate told police he had put the body of Scott into a nearby dumpster.
As officers surrounded the apartment Jonas was in at 324 E. Montclair, Scott's body was found in a dumpster inside a black trash bag. The roommate told police Jonas and Scott were hanging out the night before the shooting, and Scott had slept over. The roommate woke up to the sound of a gunshot, and Jonas told him he shot Scott in the head because of "impulsive thoughts."
Jonas asked the roommate not to call the police and help him dispose of Scott's body, but the roommate refused, he told police. The roommate left for a friend's apartment nearby and called the police, and told officers Jonas had been using "whippets" and smoking marijuana.
The roommate was taken to police HQ for questioning. He showed officers a video he had taken of Jonas allegedly putting the victim into the trash bag.
Around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jonas was arrested outside the apartment.
When Jonas was taken in for questioning, he told a different version of the story, according to investigators. Jonas told police Scott had stayed the night, saying no argument had taken place between them. Jonas claims an unknown person in a mask had entered his apartment while he was in the shower, and he heard a gunshot. Jonas said the masked person had Jonas' gun in hand, asked him to help him, and Jonas refused.
The masked person, Jonas says, left the apartment with the body. Jonas told police he tried to clean up the apartment and was not expecting police to show up. Cleaning materials were found near an area of blood where Scott is believed to have been shot.
Jonas told police the roommate was not there the morning of the shooting.
When police asked for more information on the unknown masked person, Jonas said he had an argument with the person while refusing to help. He says he did not know where the masked person went after leaving the apartment.
A single shell casing was discovered in one of the bedrooms, along with what police describe as a "projectile" on the floor. A 9mm firearm was found in the living room.
Dan Patterson, Greene County Prosecutor, tells Ozarks First that Deandre Jonas, 23, of Springfield, has been charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
You can read Ozarks First's reporting on the homicide and standoff here.