BENTONVILLE, AR – An Arkansas man was arrested after allegedly breaking into his parents’ home and shooting his mother in the face with a bow and arrow following an argument about a cat, according to police. The suspect then reportedly forced his parents to give him money before stealing his father’s truck.

Joseph Alexander, 29, is facing numerous charges, including attempted capital murder, residential burglary, and domestic battery. After taking his father’s vehicle, Alexander led police on a chase into Missouri, where he crashed and was subsequently arrested.

The Bentonville Police Department initiated the investigation around 8 a.m. on March 24 following reports of a woman, identified as Alexander’s mother, with several arrows lodged in her face and head. She was immediately taken to the hospital by paramedics.

From her hospital bed, the mother recounted the incident to detectives. She was alerted by a meowing cat outside her bedroom door early that morning. Upon opening the door to release the cat, she suddenly felt a piercing sensation in her ear and saw bright blue lights before collapsing to the floor.

“I felt something hit me two more times and realized there were arrows sticking out of my head,” she reportedly told investigators.

Her cries drew both her husband and son to the scene. Alexander, with a crossbow in hand, allegedly threatened his father, saying he wouldn’t kill him to avoid a double homicide. He demanded money, which his father initially transferred through a mobile app. As Alexander’s demands continued, he also took cash and his father’s truck keys before fleeing the scene.

The father later explained to police that Alexander had visited a few days earlier, demanding money with a veiled threat. Fearful, the father secured the home but neglected to lock the window of Alexander’s former bedroom, which is how the suspect allegedly re-entered the residence.

There were clear signs of a violent struggle inside, with bloodstains leading through the living room, authorities noted. The father himself incurred bruises and scratches during the altercation.

Stone County Sheriff’s Deputies, approximately 75 miles away, located the stolen truck and attempted a traffic stop, but Alexander allegedly refused to pull over, leading to a crash. After his arrest, a paramedic inquired about the events, to which Alexander reportedly said he was merely petting his cat when an argument with his mother ensued.

During a police interview, Alexander claimed he entered through the window to avoid waking his parents and admitted to losing his temper. When asked why he fired arrows at his mother, he could offer no clear rationale, instead blaming his reaction on thinking his mother was attacking the cat.

Authorities noted that Alexander, who remains in custody at the Benton County Jail, has been arrested multiple times since 2014, with charges ranging from assault to fleeing law enforcement.