A West Plains teen has been charged with first-degree assault resulting in serious injury and armed criminal action after allegedly using an air gun to shoot a man.
Dallas M. Doyle Jr., 17, is identified in court documents as one of two suspects in the May 1 incident. While juvenile records are typically confidential under Missouri law, proceedings automatically become public for youths age 14 or older who are charged with first-degree assault and other top-tier violent felonies. A probable cause statement submitted to prosecutors indicates the second suspect is a 16-year-old whose identity remains protected.
Doyle was arrested June 3 and remains held on a $100,000 bond. Court records show he has pleaded not guilty and will apply to be represented by a public defender. He is to appear on Monday before 37th Circuit Associate Judge R. David Ray for a council status hearing.
West Plains Police Detective Sgt. Aaron Galiher reported that officers discovered the victim unresponsive at a home on Shuttee Street with multiple puncture wounds to his body and chest cavity. The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
According to Galiher, a witness came forward and identified the two suspects, stating that Doyle admitting to shooting the man in retaliation for a separate incident involving the victim and Doyle’s grandmother.
A romantic partner of Doyle’s reportedly provided a false alibi for him, investigators noted. On May 12, the victim was able to speak with law enforcement and identified Doyle as one of his attackers, Galiher said. At the time of the interview, the victim was still in the hospital with numerous life-threatening conditions resulting from the assault, the detective added.
The case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Rizwan Ahad.
