Four Shot in Koshkonong

One man is dead and three other victims are receiving treatment for critical injuries after a shooting in a Koshkonong convenience store on Saturday morning. During a press conference that afternoon, Public Information Officer for Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop G, Sergeant Jeff Kinder, reported that a male subject entered the Snappy Mart on US Highway 63 in Koshkonong at 5:15 a.m. and shot four people inside with a handgun. 

The deceased perished at the scene, and the injured were taken to a hospital in West Plains before being transferred to hospitals in Springfield. At the time of the press conference, the next of kin of the deceased had not been notified, and authorities were not prepared to divulge his identity.

“He was from out of state,” said Oregon County Sheriff Eric King at the press conference. 

Among the injured, one is an Oregon County resident, and the other two are from out of state. All the victims were customers of the convenience store.  

No motive for the shooting has been reported, but the suspect is believed to have a connection with at least one of the injured parties, reported Sheriff King at the press conference. The exact nature of the connection remains unclear. 

Sheriff King reported that less than five hours elapsed between the time of the shooting and the apprehension of the subject, and the subject’s arrest came after a tip about the location of a wanted vehicle was submitted to Howell County Sheriff’s Office. 

Troop G announced in a press release later that afternoon the name of the suspect: Christopher L. Lindley, age 28, of Thayer, Missouri. He is charged in Oregon County Circuit Court with first degree murder and armed criminal action. Lindley is being held without bond.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the MSHP’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Oregon County Sheriff’s Department, Howell County Sheriff’s Department and the West Plains Police Department.