Center School District officer charged in fatal Westport shooting: Court documents

A man believed to be a Center School District officer was arrested and charged following a fatal shooting Friday that left one man dead, according to Jackson County court documents.

Marquis Ponder, 30, faces charges in connection with the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Levon J. Quinn Friday after the pair allegedly got into a verbal altercation outside a business near the 3900 block of Broadway Boulevard.

Video surveillance footage shows the men interacting and “exchanging words” while in the business around 4 p.m. May 23, according to court documents. The video shows Ponder in a blue polo shirt with an embroidered logo reading “Center School District” and “Officer Ponder.”

The men left the business together, continuing to speak face to face, before Quinn stepped away towards his vehicle, according to court documents. Ponder then allegedly reached into his pants pocket and displayed a black handgun.

Ponder began to follow Quinn, allegedly pulling the trigger of the gun one time, according to court documents. The two men got into their respective vehicles and drove away.

Two witnesses to the event were stopped at an intersection near the scene when Quinn allegedly drove between the two, knocking one witness from his motorcycle, according to court documents.

Ponder was apprehended by officers around 6 p.m. Friday while driving west on Gregory Boulevard from Indiana Avenue, according to court documents. Once in custody, Ponder allegedly repeated the phrases, “It is what it is,” and “I don’t want to say anything wrong. I don’t want to say anything right.”

Additionally, he allegedly told officers that Quinn was not a “perfect, innocent man,” according to court documents.

Ponder is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond, according to the jail’s inmate listing.

The man faces one count each of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action, according to court documents.

Ponder was fired from his position at Center School District after the incident, the district’s director of public engagement and outreach, Sonya Renner, said in an email to the Star.

“As always, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community remain our top priority,” the statement said. “We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as appropriate.”

This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM.