Before she slipped into a coma, woman identified Fordland man as shooter, deputies say

Deputies say a Fordland man shot his girlfriend in the head Sunday while they were driving back from Springfield.

Ronald Collins, 28, was charged Monday with first-degree assault, kidnapping and armed criminal action after the woman allegedly used finger signs to identify him as the shooter.

According to a probable cause statement, Webster County deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Jenny Lynn Drive in Fordland on Sunday for a report of a woman who had been shot.

Collins was on scene when deputies arrived and his girlfriend had been shot in the head, according to the statement.

The statement says Collins told police he and his girlfriend had been arguing throughout the night as they traveled to Springfield and back for a concert.

Collins allegedly told deputies the woman was trying to jump out of the truck so he pointed the gun at her; and the gun went off when the woman grabbed it.

The statement says deputies went to the hospital and asked the woman to hold up one finger if she shot herself or two fingers if her boyfriend shot her — and the woman immediately held up two fingers.

After the brief questioning, the statement says, the woman was placed in a medically induced coma with life-threatening injuries.

Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole said the woman also opened her eyes and shook her head when she held up the two fingers.

Cole said described the woman's condition Monday afternoon as "very serious."

Cole said Webster County deputies worked the case in conjunction with Greene County deputies since the shooting is believed to have occurred near the border of both counties.

Collins was being held Monday in the Webster County Jail on $250,000 bond.

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