An active and funny man who loved the outdoors, Andrew Ryan "Andy" McLendon was a beloved husband, stepfather, brother, and friend. The 33-year-old White / Caucasian man was known for his humor and his readiness to help anyone in need. Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on January 3, 1984, to David and Kathy McLendon, Andy was raised in the nearby community of Shawneetown and attended school in Jackson. He worked in construction and enjoyed spending his free time hunting, fishing, and simply being in nature. In 2012, he married his wife, Lacy, and became a stepfather to her two children, Hunter and Jaidyn.
The circumstances that led to the end of Andrew’s life unfolded late on the night of Wednesday, February 15, 2017, and into the early hours of Thursday, February 16. Officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to a call for a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1200 block of South Ellis Street.
According to police statements, when officers arrived at the home, they encountered Andrew McLendon. At some point during the encounter, one of the officers, identified as patrolman Joseph "Joey" Hann, discharged his firearm.
McLendon was struck by the gunfire inside the residence. He was critically injured and died from his wounds on February 16, 2017. The Cape Girardeau County Coroner, John Clifton, later confirmed the cause of death was a single gunshot wound. Following standard procedure for officer-involved shootings, the Cape Girardeau Police Department requested that the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control take over the investigation to ensure impartiality. The officer who fired the shot was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the external review.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted a thorough investigation into the shooting, which included processing the scene, collecting evidence, and interviewing all involved parties and witnesses. The complete findings of their investigation were then turned over to the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney at the time, Christopher Limbaugh, for his review. The prosecutor's office was tasked with determining whether the officer's use of deadly force was legally justified under the circumstances.
In March 2017, after reviewing the highway patrol's comprehensive report, Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh announced his decision. He concluded that the officer’s actions were justified and that no criminal charges would be filed against him. In his public statement, Limbaugh detailed the events as understood by the investigation, stating that McLendon was armed with a knife and had advanced on the officer. The report concluded the officer had acted in self-defense. With the prosecutor's decision, the criminal investigation into Andrew McLendon's death was officially closed.
Family and friends were left to mourn the sudden and violent loss of a man they cherished. A funeral service for Andrew was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in his hometown of Shawneetown, where he was also laid to rest in the church cemetery. A GoFundMe campaign was established to help his family with the unexpected funeral expenses. His obituary remembered him as a loving husband and stepfather, survived by his wife, stepchildren, two brothers, and two sisters. A friend later wrote in an online memorial, "to know Andy was to love him... a bright light never burns out." As of March 2017, the official investigation into his death is closed.
