Sullivan Man Charged In Fatal Shooting

A man was fatally shot in a West Sullivan home Sunday afternoon after an alleged trespassing incident escalated into violence, authorities say.

Christopher Edwards, 49, has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Crawford County Jail.

According to the probable cause statement, law enforcement responded to the residence following a 911 call that initially reported a trespasser on the property, and a second call moments later stating the trespasser had been shot.

Deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrived on the scene around April 6, 2025. They found Christopher Edwards near the basement stairwell of the residence and immediately handcuffed him while other first responders provided emergency medical aid to the victim.

The victim, identified in court documents only as "A," died from a single gunshot wound. A spent cartridge and the firearm used in the shooting were recovered and seized as evidence.

According to the probable cause statement, Edwards told a responding officer, “He came at me with something in his hands and I had to shoot him.” Edwards declined to make further statements, invoking his right to legal counsel after being read his Miranda rights.

The homeowner, identified as C.L. Edwards, arrived at the scene shortly afterward. She told investigators that the victim had previously lived in the home but had recently been evicted following a legal proceeding. She stated that the victim had unlawfully returned to the property on two occasions earlier in the week—on April 2 and April 3—once by allegedly breaking in through a window and again by pounding on doors and walls while yelling.

C.L. Edwards told investigators she was alerted to the trespassing on April 6 by a recently installed front-door camera, which showed a vehicle she recognized as belonging to the victim. She said she was not able to see the man himself on camera. In response, she contacted law enforcement and also called her son, Christopher Edwards, asking him to check on the residence.

According to police, Christopher Edwards entered the home by manually opening the garage door and unlocking the kitchen door. Investigators determined that the confrontation occurred in the basement.

C.L. Edwards also reported a history of aggression and violence from the victim toward her and her son, though no prior law enforcement reports were on file documenting these allegations.

Christopher Edwards was placed on a 24-hour hold at the Crawford County Jail pending further investigation