Mother of man shot and killed on Dove Drive speaks out

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The mother of Deshon Houston who was shot and killed on Dove Drive in Columbia in June of 2023 is speaking out.

It's been nearly two years since Deshon was killed and his mother Lacondance Houston says the pain of his loss is something she deals with every day.

"It's been horrible, I deal with this every day. One day it seems like I am going to be okay then I can hear music or whatever and it just puts me in a downward spiral and I am sad all over again," Lacondance said.

On June 26, 2023 a total of seven men allegedly drove by a home in the 3200 block of Dove Drive in two vehicles and started shooting. Deshon was shot in the head and was pronounced dead on scene.

Lacondance says she was in St. Louis that day when she received a call Deshon was shot and she drove back to Columbia.

"I got a call that he might not make it, I got on the highway and I came to Columbia that was the longest ride ever," Lacondance said. "When I got here he was no longer here, he was laying in the driveway lifeless."

Social media and a stop to use the bathroom is what led up Deshon's murder his mother said.

"The house it was at apparently got into it with someone, people on facebook, and somebody gave them a location with somebody that got into it with," Lacondance said. "He did not live in that house he lived in Ashland with me, he stopped there to use the bathroom."

A total of seven men have been charged in Deshon's death but Lacondance says her son's killers were strangers.

"Deshon did not know none of them, none of them, he knew their parents but not them," Lacondance said.

At one point, Lacondance says she did have a lot of hate in her heart towards her son's killers but the pain has turned into what was taken away from her family.

"I just hate what they did to my son. He didn't deserve it, he has six kids, his kids will never be able to see him they robbed his kids from that," she said.

Deshon's mother says he was a good son, who would've given his shirt off his back for anyone.

"Deshon was a good son, he loved his momma, he loved his kids, he loved his kids, he loved his kids. Those boys that did this, if they needed a ride, if they needed a dollar he was the type of guy that would do that for them, he was a good guy." she says.

Seven people were charged with first-degree murder after their charges were upgraded from second-degree murder. Four of the men have pleaded guilty in the case.

Bryton Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in June 2024. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was also sentenced to four years in prison in November 2023 for another case.

Alqueze Jones pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November 2024 in connection with Deshon's death. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Deljuan Turner also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November 2024. Judge Josh Devine sentenced him to 20 years in prison. He was accused of being one of multiple suspects firing from two vehicles on Dove Drive.

Ja'Shaun Barney had his charge upgraded to first-degree murder in May 2024. He's charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree vehicle tampering. Barney is due in court April 7 at 8:30 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse.

Damarkus Williams, another man charged in Houston's death also had his charge upgraded to first-degree murder. He is also charged with unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He is due on court April 28 at 8:30 a.m.

Deazes Turne saw his murder charge upgraded to first-degree murder in November. He is due in court on April 7 at 9 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse. Turner is also charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon for Houston's death.

All suspects who have not pleaded guilty are being held in the Boone County Jail without bond.