West Plains, Mo. – A Caulfield man was arrested last week after shooting the vehicle that contained his children and their mother and further assaulting the woman. Cody Hopkins, age 32, was arrested following a domestic dispute with the mother of his two minor children on the morning of Wednesday, October 12th.
According to the probable cause statement, the woman attempted to leave his residence on County Road 7370, three miles east of Caulfield, with their children, ages 7 and 4, shortly before 7 a.m. when Hopkins exited the residence and fired a rifle toward the vehicle. As the woman attempted to leave, Hopkins shot the tire near where his children were located inside, and chased the vehicle in a UTV. After catching the vehicle, Hopkins then assaulted the woman in an attempt to take her keys, with the woman managing to lock Hopkins out of the vehicle.
Hopkins attempted to flee from investigating deputies with the Howell County Sheriff’s Office but returned to his residence and was taken into custody.
Cody Hopkins is charged with:
- 3 counts of Armed Criminal Action
- 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child
- and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Exhibiting, Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Shooting at a Motor Vehicle, and one count of 1st Degree Domestic Assault.
Hopkins was held in the Howell County Jail and released on $100,000 bond on Friday, October 14.