Gainesville man tossing gun to young kids says ‘shoot daddy’

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An Ozark County man, 29-year-old Joshua F. Sandlin, has been arrested following an incident Oct. 8th when he allegedly assaulted a woman, tossed a gun to his 3 and 6-year-old children and told them to “shoot daddy.” He then discharged a gun toward his head, acting as if he had shot himself in the presence of the woman and children.

The Ozark County Times reports Sandlin has been charged with third-degree domestic assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the first-degree and unlawful use of a weapon – exhibiting.

According to the probable cause affidavit, an Ozark County deputy was dispatched to the Sandlin residence after a domestic disturbance and discharge of a weapon were reported.  The woman, described as a household member and having children in common with Sandlin, told the officer during the course of an argument, Sandlin pushed her to the ground and struck her in the head with his fists several times in front of their children.

The woman said she tried to leave the home, telling Sandlin she was going to contact authorities, and he pulled her back in the house by her hair and struck her in the head again, knocking her glasses from her face. Sandlin reportedly walked away long enough for the woman to retrieve the children and leave the residence.

Sandlin reportedly followed the woman and children out into the yard with a gun in his hands and said he was going to kill himself. The woman said she started to walk away, and Sandlin tossed the gun at the children and asked them to “pick it up and shoot daddy.”

The woman continued to walk away, and Sandlin reportedly picked the firearm up again and fired a shot, acting as if he’d shot himself. The woman said she went next door and called the sheriff’s department.

The deputy noted a spent .45-caliber shell casing was found, and a projectile entry point was found in the ceiling near the doorway of the residence.

The felony complaint indicates Sandlin is charged as a prior offender after he pleaded guilty to assault in February 2012 in Ozark County court.

He was originally held in jail without bond. After his arraignment Oct. 9th, court records indicate Sandlin was released from custody, with the conditions he be monitored by Court Probationary Services. Other special conditions are that he is to have no firearms and no contact with the alleged victim or her children, and he must undergo an anger management program or psychological counseling.

He is set to reappear in court later this month.

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