LONDON. KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: Laurel Sheriff's Detective Taylor McDaniel, case officer, arrested Joseph Collett age 26 of Gray, KY on Monday morning September 2, 2024 at approximately 3:07 AM.
The arrest occurred following an early morning investigation of a reported shooting where Sheriff's deputies were dispatched by London – Laurel County 911 Communication Ctr. at 12:02 A.M. to a complaint that a male subject had been shot in the leg off Wagers Road approximately 7 miles southeast of London.
When deputies arrived at the scene they located a 38-year-old male victim that had a grazed bullet wound to the leg.
An investigation was conducted where Laurel Sheriff's Investigators determined that allegedly Joseph Collett had shot and killed a dog on the front porch belonging to the victim and kicked in the front door and forced entry into the victim’s residence off Wagers Road.
Upon entry into the residence the accused then shot the male home owner in the leg and fired numerous other rounds inside the residence narrowly missing a four-year-old male child in the residence. A 2nd child in the residence was in another part of the house.
Following the shooting, the accused exited the residence, and fired numerous rounds into the residence, then fled the scene. No other injuries were reported inside the home. The victim was treated at the scene by Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and was not transported.
The accused was located a short time later by Knox County Sheriff’s deputies who were familiar with the accused and transported him to the Laurel sheriff’s office where he was arrested by Laurel Detective Taylor McDaniel.
Home invasion scene off Wagers Road in Laurel County (Laurel County Sheriff's Office)
Joseph Collett was charged with:
- Attempted murder
- Burglary – first-degree
- Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon
- Two counts of wanton endangerment – first-degree
- Cruelty to animals second-degree
This individual was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photo of accused attached is courtesy of the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Assisting on the investigation for the Laurel Sheriff's office were: Capt. Richard Dalrymple, Detective Tommy Houston, Deputy Joe Breeding, Deputy Cyruss McVey, Deputy Zach Allen, Deputy Daniel Reed and Deputy Bobby Roberts.
Also assisting were: Knox County Sheriff's office, Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County, also the London - Laurel County Rescue Squad provided scene lighting for the investigators.
The accused was familiar with the victim and the shooting was apparently the result of a domestic issue.
SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER DOG FATALLY DOG AND HOME OWNER INJURED BY GUNFIRE DURING FORCED HOME INVASION IN LAUREL COUNTY, KY
