On the evening of Saturday, August 22, 2020, authorities in Malden, Missouri, were called to a residence in the 200 block of North Decatur Street following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered 32-year-old Ryan Allen Lehnig suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency responders attempted to render aid to the victim, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The initial investigation indicated that the violence stemmed from a verbal dispute between Lehnig and an acquaintance inside the home, which escalated when the suspect retrieved a handgun and opened fire.
Law enforcement quickly identified the suspect as 38-year-old Steven Kirkwood of Malden, who had been seen fleeing the scene of the crime while bleeding. A manhunt ensued, with police cautioning the public that Kirkwood should be considered armed and dangerous. Two days later, on Monday, August 24, 2020, authorities located Kirkwood at a hotel in Marston, Missouri. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Dunklin County Jail, where he was held without bond.
Prosecutors subsequently charged Kirkwood with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The legal proceedings continued for nearly three years until June 2023, when Kirkwood entered a guilty plea to the charge of second-degree murder in connection with Lehnig’s death. Following his plea, he faced a potential sentence of up to life in prison, with his formal sentencing hearing scheduled for July 12, 2023.
