Stephanie L. Wan, Assistant U.S. Attorney | LinkedIn
Stephanie L. Wan, Assistant U.S. Attorney | LinkedIn
A Sedalia, Missouri man has been charged in federal court with illegal possession of a firearm after an incident that occurred in downtown Springfield on July 20, 2025.
Kenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 23, was named in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Springfield on July 20. The complaint was made public following his arrest and initial court appearance. Grant Jr. is currently held in federal custody as he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 1.
The criminal complaint alleges that Grant Jr. possessed a Fort Barnes Armory pistol fitted with a high-capacity magazine. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Grant Jr.’s record includes previous felony convictions for harassment, assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
An affidavit supporting the complaint states that officers from the Springfield Police Department responded to reports of gunshots near S. Patton Avenue and W. Walnut Street around midnight on July 20. Upon arrival, police found the Fort Barnes Armory pistol under a nearby car. Surveillance video reportedly showed someone believed to be Grant Jr. placing the firearm beneath the vehicle after the shooting.
Authorities emphasized that “the charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield Police Department.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice designed to address illegal immigration, target cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and combat violent crime through coordinated resources such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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