A deadly shooting late on Thursday, January 15, 2026, near a university campus has left the Springfield community mourning the loss of a young father and model employee.
Police were dispatched at 11:51 p.m. to the intersection of Kimbrough Avenue and Elm Street, a location immediately adjacent to the Missouri State University campus, following a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found 22-year-old Brandon Watt of Springfield suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency services transported Watt to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. According to official reports, 20-year-old Dawson Smith, also of Springfield, was identified as the suspect in the case and was arrested at the scene. The Springfield Police Department stated the case will be presented to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office for a determination on formal charges.
Brandon Watt was a beloved employee at Donco 3 Construction, where he had worked for about nine months. His employers, Aaron and Rachel York, remembered him as a young man “full of joy” with a “contagious” personality and an incredible work ethic. Most importantly, they highlighted his devotion to being a father to his infant child, a role he cherished and took great pride in. In a gesture of profound support, his employers have offered to cover the cost of his funeral.
The incident’s proximity to Missouri State University required the university to report it under the federal Clery Act, marking the first homicide the university has had to record in its crime statistics in 18 years. University officials clarified that the shooting occurred on adjacent property, not on university grounds, and due to the swift police response, no campus-wide alert was issued.
This homicide marks the second such investigation for the Springfield Police Department in 2026. Detectives continue to investigate and urge anyone with additional information to contact the Springfield Police Department or provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.
