Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder After Killing Girlfriend in Hospital Bed

Authorities have charged James F. Lawson with second-degree murder after he allegedly shot his girlfriend, Jessica Cyrus, in the chest while she was in a hospital bed at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri, on October 22. Surveillance video shows Lawson arriving at the room at about 1:30 a.m., using a wheelchair and sitting next to Cyrus before pulling a dark object from his pants and firing. An overnight nurse noted that Cyrus seemed to be sleeping and showed no external wounds when checked earlier in the night.

Police located Lawson at a nearby strip mall, where he claimed his memory was fuzzy but later acknowledged the video evidence. A holster and ammunition were found in his wheelchair, and he directed officers to the firearm's location. Lawson, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing weapons, was released on a $250,000 cash bond pending further proceedings.