The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance at a residence on 127th Avenue in Plano on the evening of January 26th.
According to official reports, the homeowner informed deputies that her adult son, Robert Lankford, 35, of Plano, was experiencing a mental health crisis and routinely carried a firearm in his bag. She also reported that Lankford had discharged a shotgun outside the night before and had access to multiple guns and ammunition inside the home.
Upon arriving, Court documents notes deputies spoke with the Lankford, who admitted to firing a 12-gauge pump shotgun at a target in his yard three times and provided the location of the spent shells. Officers observed three shotgun shells on the ground. A subsequent search warrant revealed seven firearms within the Lankford’s immediate reach, along with multiple rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement also discovered drug paraphernalia and a pill container containing 4.7 grams of marijuana.
Court records indicate that Lankford has a prior conviction in Arizona from 2015. Lankford was taken into custody and initially released on a surety bond. A preliminary hearing was waived on January 23rd. A public bench warrant was later issued on February 26th, and Lankford was recommitted to the Appanoose County Jail on March 4th. An arraignment is scheduled for March 18th.
Lankford is facing seven counts of dominion or control of a firearm/offensive weapon by a felon, classified as a Class D felony, as well as possession of a controlled substance—marijuana, first offense, classified as a serious misdemeanor.
Editors Note: All information was obtained from court documents related to the ongoing investigation.
