Lyndale E. Watson, Attempted Armed Robbery, Missouri 2024

Kansas City Man’s Botched Auto Dealer Robbery Ends in Guilty Plea

In a daring and deadly attempt to rob a Grandview auto dealership, Lyndale E. Watson, 36, also known as “Red, “Blood,” and “Stoni Blud,” has pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

On February 19, 2015, Watson walked into Pride Auto Sales, a car lot at 12800 S. US 78 Highway in Grandview, wearing a scarf over his face. He inquired about a car for sale, but things took a deadly turn when the owner, also armed, came to the front of the business.

Watson pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the owner, and said, “Don’t move.” However, the owner ran back to his office as Watson shot at him. The two engaged in a shootout, and Watson shot M.M., an employee, in the back as he was trying to escape. M.M. survived the shooting, but was wounded.

According to the plea agreement, Watson carried out the attempted robbery at the behest of a friend formerly employed at Pride Auto Sales, who claimed to be owed money by the owner of the car lot. On February 27, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Watson’s residence and found a Hi-Point 9mm rifle, a plastic bag containing 98 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a .380-caliber Winchester round that matched the shell casings recovered from the auto dealership.

Under federal statutes, Watson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Grandview, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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