The Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot injury incident in the early morning hours of July 16th. At approximately 1:46 AM, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a 911 call from 168 Cedar Hills Road reporting that a man had just shot himself.

     Deputies and emergency medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. First responders found the victim, identified as 22 year old THOMAS JOHN VILLEGAS, in a bedroom of the home. He had sustained serious injury from the discharge of a handgun. THOMAS VILLEGAS was transported by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home. He was later transferred by air ambulance to a hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

     The Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Greene County, Missouri Medical Examiner’s Office that MR. VILLEGAS had passed away later the same day, July 16th. There was no evidence of foul play in the incident.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff