Man living in Cave Hollow arrested after shooting at neighbor’s house; stolen rifle found on scene
Gainesville resident Michael Shane Burkeen, 41, is being held in the Ozark County Jail without bond in connection with a recent case in which he’s charged with reportedly shooting at his neighbor.
Both Burkeen and the neighbor live at The Tracts at Cave Hollow, a subdivision located off Highway 5 south near the Arkansas state line that includes more than 60 small parcels of land ranging between 6 and 16 acres.
Burkeen is charged with unlawful use of a weapon for shooting into his neighbor’s home, assault, receiving stolen property and armed criminal action.
If convicted of the class B felony of unlawful use of a weapon, Burkeen would be sentenced to prison for five to 15 years.
Gunshots and an armed neighbor
According to the probable cause statement filed by Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen Ator, at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, the officer was dispatched to a reported shooting at the Cave Hollow community on Highway 5 south of Gainesville. The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher received reports of at least 10 shots being fired.
After arriving on scene, Ator and fellow Deputy Seth Miller began interviewing witnesses. The report says that Brian Stewart, who lives on tract #37 in Cave Hollow, said his neighbors, Burkeen and one of Burkeen’s relatives, had fired guns at him. The witness said he had security camera footage that recorded the incident.
Joshua Williams, another witness, who lives at Cave Hollow tract #42, said he had also heard the gunshots. Williams said his wife called 911 to report the shots, and he went to Stewart’s residence to see what was going on.
“When Williams arrived, he saw Chris Oakley and Michael Burkeen armed with rifles,” Ator’s report says. “Mr. Williams, who was armed with an AR-15, ordered Burkeen and Oakley to lower their guns.”
Surveillance footage
Ozark County acting Chief Deputy John Russo interviewed Burkeen after advising him of his Miranda rights.
“[He] denied being armed and said he was just carrying a stick. . . . Upon reviewing Brian Stewart’s video surveillance system, two individuals could be seen carrying what appears to be rifles next to Brian Stewart’s property. It appeared as if there was at least one muzzle flash from the rifle carried by Michael Burkeen,” the report says.
A spent .243 shell casing and a Ruger 10/22 loaded magazine were recovered from the area where Burkeen and Oakley were seen on the security footage at Stewart’s house. The report says there appeared to be a small-caliber bullet hole in the end of Stewart’s residence.
A confession and a stolen weapon
The report says that, at Oakley’s residence, which is located near Stewart’s property, officers found a Remington Model 700 .243 rifle leaning against a travel trailer. A Ruger 10/22 .22-caliber rifle was recovered from Joy Oakley, the report says.
“When she handed it to officers, there was no magazine in the rifle. After recovery of the firearms, Deputy Miller spoke with Michael Burkeen, who admitted to having the .243 Remington rifle and shooting it,” the report said.
The Remington 700 rifle was later identified as one that had been stolen from a residence in Pontiac.
At this time, Oakley has not been charged; however, officers are continuing to investigate.
Russo confirmed that at least one other person was arrested on scene and that formal charges are expected be filed against him or her. At this point, he said, he could not confirm whether or not the other suspect was Oakley.