In a quiet neighborhood in Lexington, South Carolina, a dispute between neighbors escalated into a fatal encounter, leaving one man dead and a father and son facing murder charges. The life of Kevin Lester Newhouse, a 36-year-old male, was cut short on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 6, 2023, following a confrontation that turned violent. The events of that day would unravel a story of alleged trespassing, a heated argument, and a deadly shooting that has since moved to the legal system
for resolution.
The tragic incident began to unfold when Ryan Jordan Lindler Sr., 52, and his son, Ryan Jordan Lindler Jr., 26, confronted Newhouse about a trespassing incident they claimed had just occurred at another location. The Lindlers reportedly followed Newhouse to his residence on Seleta Circle, where all three men lived. According to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the confrontation escalated, and the Lindlers prevented Newhouse from going back inside his home. An incident report states that Ryan Lindler Jr. told investigators he saw Newhouse on his property via security cameras and went with his father to confront him.
Accounts of what transpired next differ. Ryan Lindler Jr. claimed that during the argument, Newhouse grabbed a machete and began swinging it at him and his father, striking both of them. However, investigators have asserted that the elder Lindler had taken the machete away from Newhouse before the shooting occurred. According to Sheriff Jay Koon, detectives determined through interviews with the Lindlers and witnesses that Ryan Lindler Sr. instructed his son to shoot Newhouse, who was unarmed at the time he was shot. Ryan Lindler Jr. allegedly fired a handgun, fatally wounding Newhouse. He then called 911 to report the incident.
Both Ryan Lindler Sr. and Ryan Jordan Lindler Jr. were arrested that evening and have been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Initially, a magistrate judge denied them bond. However, in a subsequent hearing where a large crowd gathered in their support, a judge granted them each a $150,000 bond. The case is expected to test the boundaries of property rights and self-defense laws as it proceeds through the courts.
