Suspect in West Plains Homicide Named, Charged

On Saturday, May 23 at approximately 3:00 p.m., officers of the West Plains Police Department responded to a residence on Lanton Road for a report of an altercation between two men. According to a press release from the WPPD, one male produced a firearm and shot the second male multiple times during the altercation.

The victim was identified to be Kraig K. Lynch, 30, of West Plains. Lynch was transported to Ozarks Medical Center for treatment and succumbed to his injuries. The shooter has been identified as Johnathon Thomas Goodman, 24, also, also of West Plains. The shooter was taken into custody at the scene.

According to a probable cause statement, Officer Justin Brown heard Lynch tell EMS personnel “he shot me as I tried to leave.” After Lynch was removed from the scene in an ambulance, officers located Goodman inside his residence. Goodman told officers at the scene Lynch assaulted him and was trying to kill him. Goodman had “obvious visible injuries to his head/face,” and was released for medical treatment. 

In an interview with police, Goodman said Lynch initiated a violent altercation and followed him into the residence. After the fight went on for some time, Goodman locked himself in a bathroom. Lynch allegedly continued his attack and began to pull the door off the hinges. Goodman said he gave a verbal warning and fired the gun twice. The probable cause statement noted that the door was, in fact, removed from the door frame. 

Goodman was formally charged by the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with one count of second degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. Goodman is being held at the Howell County Jail. He entered a plea of “not guilty” at his arraignment on May 26.