A Searcy County man has been arrested and charged in connection with an incident Wednesday evening when a 3-year-old boy was shot in the head.Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell says 65-year-old Rowland Kent “Tom” Wyatt has been charged with four felony counts of aggravated assault and one misdemeanor count of third-degree battery.
The charges stem from an incident about 6 p.m. when two adults and two children were walking along South Woolum Road in St. Joe, and the sheriff’s office received a call advising a 3-year-old boy had been shot.
When officers arrived, the child had been taken by ambulance to a staging area, where he was airlifted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
Sheriff Cassell and his officers went to the area where the shooting took place and made contact with Wyatt, who appeared to be intoxicated. Wyatt was taken to the Searcy County Detention Center for questioning.
During a search of Wyatt’s property, law enforcement officials located several pieces of evidence that with statements from the interview led to the arrest.
During an interview with Arkansas State Police investigators, Wyatt allegedly stated he came out of his residence and fired the gun.
Wyatt is being held in the Searcy County jail on a cash-only bond of $45,000.
Chief Deputy Dewayne Pierce says the 3-year-old has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
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