Just after 1:50 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, neighbors around East Elm Street heard sirens and saw police racing toward an apartment building near Missouri State University. When officers arrived on scene at the 1200 block of East Elm, they found 33‑year‑old Devin Cogdill suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency crews rushed him to a local hospital. He later died from his injuries.
Police also found 25‑year‑old Ethan Mitchell at the scene, deceased from what authorities say was a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. Springfield police confirmed Mitchell shot Cogdill before turning the weapon on himself.
Friends and neighbors in the quiet residential block described the area as calm earlier in the day, but by early afternoon it was swarmed with police tape and flashing lights. One neighbor told reporters he heard a couple of gunshots and then saw first responders hurry into the building. Families living nearby said they were shocked, saying the neighborhood is usually quiet.
Cogdill and Mitchell were both lifelong Springfield residents, according to police. Their families have been notified and community members are offering condolences. Residents say they’re struggling to make sense of sudden violence so close to home.
This tragic double fatality marks Springfield’s fourth homicide investigation of 2026, a sobering statistic for a city already adapting to rising concerns about community safety. Police encouraged anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
At a makeshift memorial near the crime scene, neighbors laid flowers and notes remembering Devin’s life. Some spoke of him as a familiar face in the neighborhood who would stop to talk and always offered a friendly greeting. Others said the shock of losing someone they knew — even casually — has left them unsettled.
Authorities continue to review details surrounding the shooting. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Springfield Police Department or Crime Stoppers. The community is left reflecting on how swiftly life can change and how much those left behind carry in the wake of tragedy.
