Carthage man charged with first degree murder in connection with December shooting of Joplin man at Westside Storage

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed first degree murder and armed criminal action charges Thursday against a Carthage man Thursday in connection with the December 18 death of Jonathan E. Powell, 36, Joplin, at Westside Storage, 1717 S. Roosevelt, Joplin.

A no-bond warrant has been issued.

Mason S. Roach, 24, is being held in the Ottawa County Jail, Miami, Oklahoma, on unrelated charges, according to a Joplin Police Department news release.








An autopsy of Powell, conducted the day after his death, determined he died of gunshot wounds.

Joplin Police Department officers, responding to a call of unknown trouble at the address, discovered Powell, critically injured. He was taken to Mercy Hospital where he died.

Roach was awaiting trial in Jasper County Circuit Court on a felony auto theft charge when the murder occurred.

At the time he allegedly committed that offense, he was on probation after receiving suspended sentences for stealing a gun, forgery and domestic assault.