Mother Charged After Shooting Son

A Breathitt County man was hospitalized on Friday after his mother shot him during a domestic incident.

Joshua Dean Little, 27, of Little Buckhorn Road, was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington on April 17 with a single gunshot wound to the leg.

Little’s mother, Angela Joyce Little, 52, was arrested at 10:43 a.m. and charged with one count of Assault in the First Degree. 

She was lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail in Hazard.

According to police officials, Angela Little called 911 at 7:21 a.m. and told dispatchers that she had just shot her son at their home at 3449 Little Buckhorn Road off Highway 476.

Troopers responded to the scene and located both Joshua and Angela Little.

Officials said that Angela Little “peacefully” walked out of the house and was detained.

Paramedics from Breathitt-Wolfe Ambulance transported Joshua Little to an awaiting medi-vac helicopter after troopers secured the scene.

According to information in the case, Angela Little told detectives that her son had been drinking.  The two argued verbally, and then the situation “advanced to him putting hands on her” and he reportedly “came at her.” 

She admitted to troopers that she fired a single shot into his left thigh with a Smith & Wesson snub-nosed .38 pistol in self-defense.  Little told investigators that she then unloaded the weapon and placed it on the kitchen counter, where it was later located.

Little provided additional information to the Kentucky State Police after she was advised of her rights and also granted permission for troopers to enter the home to collect evidence.

After taking photographs to document the scene, investigators located blood in the master bathroom, which was consistent with Little’s statements to police.

She was arrested and booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail at 11:42 a.m. on April 17, where she remains as of press time.  Her bail was set at $10,000 cash with the condition that she commit no new violations, have no contact with her son, not possess any firearms, and submit to random drug screenings.  

Angela Little was scheduled for arraignment in Breathitt District Court before Judge Gary Salyers on April 20, but her appearance was rescheduled for April 30. 

Kentucky State Police Detective Darrell Hicks is in charge of the investigation.