A Lawson man, arrested over the weekend, has been charged with first-degree murder regarding his alleged involvement in an incident at Lawson.
Fifty-year-old Lawrence Patrick Neary the Fourth is also charged with armed criminal action. A probable cause statement filed in Ray County Circuit Court states that Highway Patrol officers late Saturday night located a deceased victim in a bedroom closet. Lawson Police had requested assistance from the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control. Authorities had received a call claiming the victim and suspect had allegedly been “fighting” all day.
Neary was located early Sunday morning at an associate’s residence where he was taken into custody. During an interview, Neary reportedly indicated he and the victim had a verbal argument earlier Saturday evening. This escalated to the point where the victim retrieved Neary’s pistol and allegedly pointed it at him. The victim asked Neary to leave, and he refused. The victim then attempted to leave, but Neary allegedly physically prevented her from doing so.
The probable cause statement filed by the Highway Patrol indicates evidence at the scene suggests the victim had been shot multiple times while on her back in the confined space of the closet. The name of the deceased victim was not released.
