Winfield Incident Involving AK-Style Rifle Prompts Multi-Agency Response

WINFIELD, Mo. — A St. Louis woman has been charged in connection with an incident in Winfield that police say involved flourishing a firearm during a disturbance that included multiple juveniles.

charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Exhibiting) in connection with an incident in Winfield, MO involving an AK-style rifle. Bond was set at $20,000 cash only. Edwards is in custody at this time.

According to a probable cause statement filed by the Winfield Police Department, officers were dispatched on the evening of January 19, 2026, to a report of a disturbance involving weapons being displayed in the City of Winfield.

Upon arrival, officers observed a large group of people in the roadway near the reported location. The victim, identified at the scene, had visible injuries to his face and was actively bleeding. He told officers he had been jumped by multiple individuals following an altercation that escalated from a one-on-one fight.

Investigators reported that several juveniles were involved in the incident. During interviews, witnesses stated that a female later identified as Akeelah Desiree Edwards, a St. Louis resident, pulled out a rifle during the disturbance and pointed it in the direction of those involved.

Police stated that the Troy Police Department later located and stopped the vehicle believed to be involved on East Cherry Street near Taormina’s. Officers detained four individuals, including three male juveniles and Edwards.

During a consent search of the vehicle, officers recovered a black AK-47-style rifle with a loaded magazine inserted. The firearm was located in the rear passenger floorboard area, concealed under clothing.

Edwards was taken into custody and interviewed by investigators. According to the probable cause statement, Edwards told officers she did not know where the group was going prior to the incident and said she picked up the firearm in an attempt to stop the fight. Officers documented that Edwards acknowledged making a verbal threat during the incident.

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Investigators also obtained video evidence, including cellphone footage and security camera footage from a nearby residence, which police say captured audio and visual portions of the disturbance.

Edwards was booked into the Lincoln County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold. She has been charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a class E felony under Missouri law.

Court records indicate bond was set at $20,000 cash only, with additional conditions including no contact with victims or witnesses and GPS monitoring prior to release.

An initial court appearance for Edwards is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026, in Associate Division III of the 45th Judicial Circuit Court in Lincoln County.

Because several individuals involved in the incident are juveniles, additional details regarding their identities and any related proceedings are restricted under state law.

The investigation remains ongoing.

UPDATE (7:38 PM)

Exclusive audio and video reviewed by Lincoln CountyWatch

Lincoln CountyWatch exclusively reviewed audio and video recordings provided by a source who requested anonymity. The footage shows a large physical altercation, followed by one individual retrieving a rifle from a nearby truck and returning to point it toward those involved in the fight before placing it back in the vehicle.

The video then shows a second individual retrieving the same rifle, walking toward the group, pointing the weapon in their direction, and returning it to the truck.

The accompanying audio includes a woman making explicit verbal threats involving the firearm. The recordings have been provided to law enforcement and are part of the ongoing investigation. Due to juvenile involvement and the sensitive nature of the material, the footage has not been released publicly.

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This article was written by John Eads. For more information, please contact Lincoln CountyWatch. All information provided is based on available sources and is subject to change.

Allegations mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Lincoln CountyWatch does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.

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