Howell County Sheriffs Office Issues Release on Thanksgiving Incident

West Plains, MO. – The Howell County Sheriff’s Office has issued a press release and have posted pictures online regarding the Thanksgiving Day incident, where an emotionally distressed male had doused themselves in gasoline.


On November 24, 2022 at approximately 1139 hours, Howell County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch was transferred two calls through Howell County 911. Both callers advised they were travelling on County Road 8270 and observed a male subject in the roadway pouring gasoline on himself.
3. Deputies responded to the area and made contact with a white male at a residence on County Road 8270. While Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation, the subject made statements about having killed other occupants of the residence, threw various objects at Deputies, armed himself with a knife and stated he had a firearm. The subject also made numerous statements about filling the residence with gasoline and propane in an attempt to blow up and burn the residence.
4. On scene Deputies made the decision to request the Howell County S.W.A.T. unit for assistance with resolving the issue. Upon completion of a threat assessment and warning order; a S.W.A.T. team was activated and responded to the scene.
5. Upon arrival of the S.W.A.T. team; contact was made with the subject in the front yard of the residence. After several minutes of speaking with the subject the decision was made to contact West Plains Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team. Personnel from the Howell Rural Fire Department and South Howell County Ambulance were requested to respond and stage nearby. After approximately (30) minutes the subject was taken into custody without injury.
8. Given the statements by the subject; the decision was made to clear the residence and ensure there were no other hostile threats or injured persons. No additional persons were located in the residence. The male subject was transported to Ozarks Healthcare by South Howell County Ambulance. Upon arrival he was treated for self-inflicted injuries and placed on a 96-hour hold for an evaluation.
10. Charges for Armed Criminal Action, Making A Terroristic Threat and Assault 2nd Degree – Special Victim have been forwarded to the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
11. Howell County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the West Plains Police Department’s Patrol and Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), South Howell County Ambulance, Howell County 911, and Howell County Rural Fire Department for their assistance in resolving this incident.
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