The Howard County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call at 11:28 a.m. on January 29, 2016 reporting 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 (44yo of Mena) were at a boat ramp launching their boat. David Echols parked the truck after launching the boat and was gathering some items in his arms to take with the two in the boat. Some of these items were two handguns, a .22 cal revolver and a .357 handgun. David 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 David 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. 

Bryan McJunkins, Sheriff