Springfield, Missouri – A teenage suspect involved in the fatal shooting of Chaviz Nguyen in 2023 has been identified and charged as an adult. Timothy S. Hester, 17, faces severe charges including first-degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon. The incident, which occurred on November 14, resulted in Nguyen’s death and left a pregnant woman wounded.
Hester is scheduled for a bond hearing on April 22. Another individual, Elysha Bedell, 19, has also been charged in connection with the shooting. Bedell faces charges of first-degree murder, assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action. It is believed that Hester, Bedell, and a third juvenile were involved in shooting Nguyen from one vehicle to another at the intersection of College Avenue and Grant Avenue.
Prior to this incident, Hester and the other juvenile had been involved with the Greene County Juvenile Office, with their cases initially set to be handled in juvenile court. Hester’s arrest warrant was issued on April 11, leading to his appearance in Judge Josephine Stockard’s courtroom after being taken into custody.
Investigations by the Springfield Police Department reveal that Nguyen was a passenger in a vehicle en route to have dinner with the injured woman. The woman recounted noticing a dark gray sedan matching their pace and following them before the tragic incident occurred at the intersection of College and Grant Avenues.
The pregnant woman, who was 29 weeks along, was also wounded during the shooting. Bedell’s case is set for a case management hearing on May 9, while the third suspect, a juvenile, is currently held at the Greene County Juvenile Detention Center.
As of Monday morning, Hester’s location was undisclosed as his mugshot was not available on the Greene County Jail’s website. The gravity of the charges and the tragic circumstances surrounding Nguyen’s death highlight the importance of swift and thorough investigation in cases of such nature.