The Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate a shooting incident that took place Wednesday afternoon, March 7th.  At approximately 4:02 PM, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that a man who had sustained a gunshot wound to his neck was being transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home by private vehicle.  The incident was said to have occurred at a residence on Baxter CR 1101, which is East of Mountain Home.

     Deputies responded to both the Hospital ER to make contact with the man who had been shot and also to the house on Baxter CR 1101 to make contact with the person who discharged the weapon.  Initial indications from the preliminary investigation were that the 58 year old male victim, BRIAN SCOTT HAND of Baxter County, had gone to the residence in question and was knocking on the front door.  Some kind of altercation had taken place the prior evening at the same residence, and BRIAN HAND was told not to come back.

     The homeowner, 65 year old ARTHUR MACLEOD, and his wife instructed HAND to leave the property, but he refused to leave and began making threats against them.  As MACLEOD began to close the door, BRIAN HAND placed his foot in the doorway to keep the door from closing.  At this point, ARTHUR MACLEOD retrieved a .22 caliber rifle, which he said he thought was unloaded, to convince HAND to leave the property.  BRIAN HAND backed out into the yard, with ARTHUR MACLEOD following.  According to MACLEOD, the rifle accidentally discharged, and one round struck BRIAN HAND in the neck.  HAND then left the property and walked to a neighbor’s house.  He was taken from there to the hospital.  HAND was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

     Sheriff’s Investigators met today with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney to determine what charges, if any, would be filed against the homeowner, ARTHUR MACLEOD.  At the conclusion of that meeting, and after reviewing evidence and formal statements provided by all the parties involved, it was decided that no criminal charges will be filed in the matter.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff