Springfield mother organizes GoFundMe after shooting death of 16-year-old son

A Springfield mother is grieving after the shooting death of her 16-year-old son.

On June 21, Springfield police responded to a shooting at 2832 E. Linwood St. There, officers found Davondre Thompson-Baugher with a gunshot wound. Thompson-Baugher was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries on June 23, according to police.

According to Marisha Thompson, her son was shot while at a friend's house. There was a gun in the house, which no one thought was loaded. Since then, she said her days have been "hell." From speaking with news outlets and setting up funeral arrangements, Thompson said she is living every parent's worst nightmare.

"I wish he would've called me and came home that night," Thompson said. "I would tell him that I love him and just — wait for me when I get there."

Thompson said her son was a regular 16-year-old boy who was full of energy. Known as "DJ" to friends and family, Thompson-Baugher was known as a loyal friend. He loved football — specifically the Kansas City Chiefs — and his favorite player was Patrick Mahomes. His mother said he leaves behind seven siblings.

"DJ’s genuine soul touched everyone who had the privilege to know him, leaving an indelible mark on all who crossed his path," Thompson wrote. "To all parents and those who have experienced the profound loss of a loved one, we understand the indescribable pain and emptiness that follows."

Thompson also has questions about the circumstances of her son's death.

"My son, he's like me. He sleeps all day long. Was he even awake? Did he mess with the gun? Did you really check to see if the gun was not loaded? Did he call out for me? Those are questions I will never get answers to," Thompson said.

According to the report, a juvenile was taken into custody at the time of the incident and transported to the Greene County Juvenile Detention Center. A Greene County Juvenile judge will make a decision regarding charges. Thompson said she hopes to see justice for her son.

"Why should he be able to get out of juvie or jail and be able to enjoy his life and go have children and grow up and be adults when I won't get to have those things? He took that from me," Thompson said. "I will never get to see my son go to prom. I will never get to see him get married, have kids, graduate, any of that. He robbed me of memories that I'm never gonna get."

Thompson has also set up a GoFundMe page for donations, which will be used for Thompson-Baugher's funeral expenses. As of Tuesday, the page had brought in $2,145 of its $15,000 goal. The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, July 6, from 1-3 p.m. at Greenlawn North Funeral Home.

"I decided to do that because I didn't have life insurance for him," Thompson said. "For any of my kids, and I literally had no money, so I started a GoFundMe so that I can at least get something started."

To donate, visit the "LLDJ" GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/8y4p57-lldj.