A Deepwater man is facing charges after allegedly shooting and killing a woman in a domestic dispute that unfolded on June 17, 2025.
According to a probable cause statement filed by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, 71-year-old Harold David James is accused of fatally shooting a woman identified as VICTIM #1 inside a residence on SE 1251 Private Road, located in rural Henry County. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence shortly after 11:30 a.m. following a 911 call reporting the incident.
Initial information came from a witness who advised that James had shot his sister-in-law and that she was deceased. Law enforcement located James a short time later in Benton County, where he was taken into custody without incident by a Benton County deputy after being seen with a firearm in a silver Ford pickup truck.
Upon entering the residence, authorities found the victim face-down on the dining room floor in a pool of blood. Detectives observed three shell casings and multiple blood stains in the kitchen and dining room area. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including injuries to the back, shoulder, and neck.
James reportedly told investigators that an argument had escalated into a physical altercation earlier in the day, and he claimed the victim had previously assaulted him. He later admitted to shooting her twice from the living room as she stood in the dining room, believing she was retrieving a gun. No weapon was found near the victim at the scene.
The firearm, a Glock Model 43, was later recovered from another residence where James had dropped it off after the shooting. The same witness who reported the location of the gun also stated that James brought his dog to be cared for before telling them, “I knew I messed up and was in a lot of trouble.”
James remains in custody and faces formal charges as the investigation continues. The Henry County Coroner and Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted in the case.
This incident marks a tragic end to what authorities describe as a long-standing family dispute, now turned deadly.
