TERRICA HENDRIX
Editor
GILLHAM LAKE – The Howard County Sheriff’s Office responded to an accidental shooting at Gillham Lake.
According to a press release issued by Sheriff Bryan McJunkins, his department received a 9-1-1 call at 11:28 a.m. on Jan. 29 stating that a man had been accidently shot at a boat ramp on Gillham Lake.
“Investigator Jade Hughes responded and learned that Joseph Green and David Echols, 44, of Mena, were at a boat ramp launching their boat. Echols parked the truck after launching the boat and was gathering some items in his arms to take with the two in the boat,” McJunkins said via press release.
He confirmed that “some of these items were two handguns, a .22 caliber revolver and a .357 handgun. David [Echols] dropped the .22 cal revolver as he was carrying it and it discharged when it hit the ground. The revolver was in a holster and shot through the holster when it fired.” The round struck Echols in his left forearm. Southwest EMS transported Echols to the Gillham Fire Department where he was met by Air Evac and transported to a Hot Springs hospital for treatment.
