West Plains, MO. – A West Plains man was arrested last week after shooting at another man near Peace Valley.
Leland Eugene Collins, age 50, is charged with 1st-degree assault or attempt and armed criminal action, both felonies, for events that took place at a residence on County Road 1940, roughly eleven miles north of West Plains, on the afternoon of August 11, 2023.
According to the probable cause statement, Collins had fired a small caliber handgun at a man on the porch of the residence. Two witnesses told deputies with the Howell County Sheriff’s Office that they saw Collins fire the gun at the man following an argument between the two.
The victim told authorities that he and Collins had been arguing on the porch of the home when Collins tried to hit him. The victim says he then grabbed a baseball bat to defend himself. Collins then took several steps off the porch, pulled a .22 revolver, and shot at him twice, according to his statement.
Collins was arrested and held in the Howell County Adult Detention Center. He was released on August 15, 2023, on a $50,000 cash or Corporate Surety bond. He is scheduled to have a bond appearance hearing at the Howell County Courthouse on Monday, August 21st.
