A domestic dispute inside a car on a summer night in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, ended in the death of Melissa Powell, a Caucasian female. Friends remembered her as a "happy go lucky" person who could light up a room. Her life was cut short on June 18, 2023, in an act of violence that unfolded on South Louisiana Street.
Just before midnight, Ms. Powell was in a vehicle with Ronnie L. Bryant, 59, in the 100 block of the street when an altercation broke out between them. During the dispute, Bryant shot Ms. Powell in the neck. In a strange turn, it was Bryant who then sought help, contacting a Plain Dealing police officer to request medical assistance for the woman he had just shot.
Emergency services responded quickly, and Ms. Powell was transported to Ochsner LSU Health for treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, her gunshot wound proved fatal, and she succumbed to her injury at the hospital.
The Plain Dealing Police Department and the Bossier Sheriff’s Office immediately began a homicide investigation. After interviewing Bryant, detectives arrested him and charged him with one count of second-degree murder. He was booked into the Bossier Parish Maximum Security Facility, where his bond was set at $500,000.
In August 2023, the case against Ronnie Bryant moved forward when a Bossier Parish grand jury returned a formal indictment, charging him with second-degree murder. As of that indictment, the case is proceeding through the court system. Authorities have asked that anyone who witnessed the incident or has any related information contact the Bossier Sheriff's Office Criminal Division at 318-965-3418.
