Ryan Louis Steen, 21, will serve 20 years in a Mississippi prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a May 16, 2019, shooting that resulted in the death of a local woman. The incident occurred at 13644 Highway 12 West around 12:45 a.m.
Steen had previously pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge in the case, with the District Attorney’s Office saying Steen was playing with a firearm when it went off and the woman was shot in the chest. The victim was taken to the hospital alive, but later succumbed to her injuries.
“He killed Amy Sanders by playing in a dangerous manner with a firearm which went off and shot and killed her,” Assistant District Attorney Mike Howie told the court.
When deputies arrived on the scene, Steen had left the location, but an investigation indicated he was the suspect. The Attala County Sheriff’s Department put out a BOLO (be on the lookout) notification and received a report that the suspect was at the Louisville Walmart around 10:30 a.m. Deputies from the Winston County Sheriff’s Department took Steen into custody without incident.
The suspect had been held on a $100,000 bond since his arrest and appeared in Attala County Circuit Court last week with his public defender, Bruce Brown, on what is referred to as “plea day,” which preceded the beginning of the March session of the court.
As part of the plea deal, a charge of possession of methamphetamine against Steen was dropped.
Judge Joseph Loper accepted Steen’s plea and the sentencing agreement advocated by the Attala County District Attorney’s Office.
