Knox man arrested for attempted murder

A Knox County man was arrested early Monday morning, September 2 following the report of a shooting off Wagers Road in Laurel County.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Detective Taylor McDaniel, case officer, arrested Joseph Collett, 26 of Gray, on Monday, September 2, 2024 at approximately 3:07 a.m. after the reported shooting. Deputies were dispatched following a complaint called into the London-Laurel County 911 Communications Center that a man had been shot in the leg at the Wagers Road location, approximately seven miles southeast of London.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies located the 38-year-old male victim with a grazed bullet wound to the leg. Further investigation revealed that Collett had allegedly shot and killed a dog on the front porch. The dog belonged to the male victim. Collett allegedly kicked in the front door and forced entry into the victim’s home, which is when Collett allegedly shot the homeowner in the leg and also fired numerous other rounds inside the residence. A four-year-old child was inside the home at the time and, according to a release by Laurel County Sheriff John Root, was narrowly missed in the shooting. There was also another child in the home but in a separate part of the residence.

After the shooting, Collett allegedly exited the home before firing numerous rounds into the residence and then fleeing the scene. No further injuries were reported in the home. The victim was treated at the scene by Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County and was not transported to the hospital.

Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies, who were familiar with Collett, located him and transported him to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office where he was arrested by Det. Taylor McDaniel. Collett was charged with attempted murder, burglary-first degree, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, two counts of wanton endangerment-first degree, and cruelty to animals-second degree. He was booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center where he remains held on a $1,000,000 cash bond.

Assisting with 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, Deputy Bobby Roberts. Also assisting were the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County, London Laurel County Rescue Squad (provided scene lighting for investigators).

The accused was familiar with the victim, and the shooting was apparently the result of a domestic issue.