Late Monday, June 13: after reviewing this case with Investigators with the Baxter County Sheriff's Oiffice,  14th Judicial District Prosecutor Ron Kincade has ruled that the homeowner, Jeremy Ealey was justified in using deadly force against the assailant that was breaking into his residence. Prosecutor Kincade stated he is considering charges against the wounded suspect. 

Investigators were able to determine that an incident that had occured a few hours earlier involving a vehicle accident (see previous press release) was related to this incident.  Investigators were able to place the suspect, Larry Copas in the vehicle that was driven by Henry Nielsen Jr. that had wrecked at midnight the same evening.  They were able to determine that Nielsen had fled the scene after the accident.

The investigation is continuing with more arrests possible.

Sheriff John Montgomery

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 June 13, at approximately 4:34 AM, the Baxter County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call of a person who was attempting to break into a house on Timberlane Road, West of Mountain Home. The caller stated someone was attempting to break into a window of a bedroom their 4-year old daughter was sleeping in. 911 Dispatcher remained on the phone while Deputies were responding. While on the phone the female caller stated that the suspect had thrown a concrete block through the glass portion of the rear door and that her husband had shot multiple times though the door.

     When Deputies, Sgt. Mike Holland and Brian Davis arrived they found a white male subject sitting on the porch at the rear of the residence covered in blood from a head wound. Ambulance personnel arrived on the scene and transported the subject to Baxter Regional Medical Center. He was later transferred to Saint Johns in Springfield, Missouri where he is in critical condition.

     Preliminary investigation results are the homeowners, Jeremy and Kristi Ealey, were awakened by someone attempted to gain access to their daughter's bedroom window. The suspect, 33 year old Larry Shawn Copas, then attempted to gain access through the rear door of the residence throwing a concrete block through the glass portion of the door. Jeremy Ealey fired three shots from a 22 caliber revolver though the rear door at the suspect. A few moments later, Copas stuck his hand though the broken window attempting to unlock the door. Ealey then fired two more shots though the door. It appears that Copas was struck twice, once in the head and once in the lower abdomen.

     The homeowners were not injured. The investigation is continuing with formal charges anticipated to be filed by the Prosecutor.

Sheriff John Montgomery