SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A judge sentenced a man accused in the shooting death of a woman in Springfield in December of 2021.
Lavona R. Haddock, 61, of Springfield, died in the incident. Lilburn W. Motley, 66, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge. The judge sentenced him to life in prison.
Police arrested Motley at the scene of the deadly shooting. Investigators said Motley told officers he shot his girlfriend of 37 years to “shut her up.” A witness in the home, described as the couple’s son-in-law, says they were arguing, a common occurrence, according to his statement, when he heard the gun go off. Motley told investigators that he was cleaning his gun, and it accidentally went off, hitting Haddock. However, Motley’s son-in-law told police he hasn’t seen him clean the gun in months. Officers also stated that the weapon did not appear to have been recently cleaned or oiled…