A domestic dispute inside a car on South Louisiana Street in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, ended in homicide shortly before midnight on June 18, 2023. Melissa Powell, a Caucasian female, was shot in the neck during the altercation and later died at Ochsner Medical Center from her injury.

The man involved, Ronnie L. Bryant, contacted a local police officer after the shooting to request medical assistance for Powell. The Plain Dealing Police Department, assisted by the Bossier Sheriff’s Office, opened a homicide investigation. Bryant was interviewed by detectives, arrested, and charged with one count of second-degree murder; he was booked into the Bossier Maximum Security Facility with bond set at $500,000.

Anyone who has information about what happened that night is asked to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation.