BENTONVILLE, AR – In a harrowing series of events, a man reportedly attacked his mother with a bow and arrow and later made off with cash and his father’s truck. The suspect, Joseph Alexander, 29, is now facing multiple charges, including attempted capital murder and residential burglary.
The Bentonville Police Department responded to emergency calls on March 24 regarding a woman with arrows embedded in her face and head. The woman, identified as Alexander’s mother, was swiftly taken to a hospital for urgent care.
The incident unfolded early in the morning when Alexander’s mother heard a cat meowing at her bedroom door. Upon opening the door, she was suddenly struck by what felt like an ear injury, and she realized she had been shot with an arrow. In an attempt to protect herself, she lay on the floor but was hit with more arrows.
Her husband rushed to the scene after hearing her screams. He found his son standing over his wife with a crossbow. The suspect reportedly said he would not kill his father as it would result in a double homicide.
Demanding money from his parents, Alexander used a Cash App to secure $2,000, the maximum allowed in a single transaction, followed by an additional $1,400. In his attempt to extract more funds, the suspect was thwarted by his parents’ inability to recall their bank account details.
Alexander’s father, during a struggle with his son to protect his wife, eventually handed over his credit card and keys to his truck. With these, Alexander left the scene in his father’s vehicle.
Days before the attack, Alexander had visited his parents’ home, demanding money and making ominous threats. His father, in response, ensured all entry points were secure except for a window to Alexander’s old room, which the suspect used to gain entry on the day of the attack.
Upon discovering the situation, Stone County Sheriff’s deputies, 75 miles away, spotted the stolen vehicle and engaged in a pursuit, which ended with Alexander crashing the truck.
While in custody, Alexander initially claimed to have been petting his cat when he alleged that his mother upset the animal. He then shot her with what he described as a “toy crossbow.”
Under questioning, however, Alexander admitted to losing his temper, albeit for no definitive reason, apart from a perceived threat to his cat.
Alexander’s criminal history reveals prior arrests dating back to 2014, including charges of assault and aggravated assault on law enforcement. He remains detained at Benton County Jail pending further legal proceedings.
Alexander is expected to face trial on these severe charges, as investigators continue to piece together the full context of this unsettling domestic incident.