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A Milwaukee man faces two charges after prosecutors say he stalked his ex-girlfriend for at least seven months before killing her in St. Francis during a custody pickup for their son July 16, according to a criminal complaint filed July 21.
Randall Lenyard, 33, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and stalking of Kiana Pliska ‒ both felonies. If convicted of both charges, Lenyard faces life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Pliska filed two restraining orders against Lenyard this year, claiming she was tracked and physically assaulted. One was dismissed after she didn't show up in court, while the second was approved the day after the fatal shooting.
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Lenyard's initial court appearance is scheduled for July 22.
Pliska was murdered in St. Francis on July 17
According to the criminal complaint:
St. Francis police responded to 3739 S. Packard Ave. around 7 p.m. July 16, following reports of gunshots and found a woman lying on the ground, later identified as Pliska.
Pliska was suffering from numerous gunshot wounds and had shallow breathing. She was transported to Froedert Hospital, where she died.
An autopsy conducted by the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds.
A witness at the scene told officers she heard at least five gunshots, initially believing it to be fireworks. She stated she saw a man, later identified as Lenyard, go to the passenger side of a vehicle and fire his gun. He then went around the car and shot at Pliske three more times.
The woman said she yelled at Lenyard before he got back into his nearby car, and fled with a child in the backseat.
Lenyard's sister told detectives he had been stalking Pliska for months prior to the fatal shooting
In an interview later that day with police, Lenyard's sister told authorities that Lenyard had been stalking Pliska for months. She said she had encouraged Pliska to file a restraining order against her brother after begging Lenyard to leave her alone didn't work.
She told police Pliska had originally filed a restraining order against Lenyard on April 15, but he persuaded Pliska not to go to court. She also explained that Lenyard and Pliska shared a son and had a custody agreement that alternated seven days with each parent that began each Thursday.
Lenyard's sister told police he went to pick up his son that Thursday and met Pliska at their old apartment on Packard Avenue in St. Francis. In the aftermath, she said Lenyard texted her stating he had shot Pliska.
She called Pliska's phone, and after she didn't pick up, she called her brother, who she said told her he planned to shoot himself and his son.
After calling the police, she called Lenyard again, pleading for him not to harm her nephew and convincing Lenyard to meet her at Walgreens near 60th and Burleigh to drop off the child.
Before leaving, Lenyard allegedly told his sister that if police tried to get him, he was going to get in a shootout so that the police could kill him.
Lenyard was eventually found and taken into custody on July 16.
Lenyard told police he shot Pliska after the two argued during their custody exchange
The next day, on July 17, police interviewed Lenyard regarding Pliska's death. He stated he had lived with Pliska and his son and Pliska's other son from another relationship, but they broke up and he was currently single.
He told police he went to pick up his son in St. Francis and began to quarrel with Pliska. "We started to argue, and I shot her," he said.
He said he shot Pliska as she was running away and then left with his son.
Pliska had filed two restraining orders against Lenyard in 2026
According to the complaint and court documents, Pliska filed a petition for a restraining order against Lenyard the day of the shooting, which was approved by a judge the day after she died, on July 17.
In an April 14 filing from this year, Pliska alleged Lenyard had put an AirTag in her vehicle in January, and up until April showed up to the residence on numerous occasions and physically assaulted her.
In a written response from Lenyard, he told courts he owned four firearms, including two handguns and two rifles. The case was dropped April 27 after Pliska didn't show up to court.
In the petition filed the day of the shooting, Pliska wrote that beginning on July 11, Lenyard had again stalked Pliska and her sister while the two were on Water Street. After that, Lenyard would show up to Pliska's location and would ask others for information on her whereabouts.
On July 15, Pliska wrote Lenyard showed up to her home again and kicked the door in.
Fundraisers were set up to help Pliska's family
Pliska's family set up a GoFundMe, where they described Pliska as a loving mother, sister and aunt.
"Kiana was always willing to help others when she had the opportunity and forever had a smile on her face while doing it," her family wrote.
All For Them Co. will host a cake pop fundraiser July 23-26 in Cudahy and Caledonia, with 50% of proceeds from every cake pop sold going directly to Pliska's family. The fundraiser features cake pop flavors inspired by Pliska's favorite colors and treats.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man charged in fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend during custody pickup
