Authorities said the shooting followed an argument over chores inside a West 14th Street residence.

CARROLLTON, Mo. — A Carrollton man was charged with first-degree murder after authorities said his grandmother was shot in the head April 22 while seated on a couch inside a home on West 14th Street.

Dakota A. Sweeney, 28, is also charged with armed criminal action in Carroll County Circuit Court. The case moved quickly from a late-night shooting call to a no-bond murder case after a witness inside the house identified Sweeney as the suspect, according to authorities. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said its Division of Drug and Crime Control is leading the homicide investigation at the request of the Carrollton Police Department.

The patrol said Carroll County law enforcement officers were sent to the 100 block of West 14th Street at about 10:25 p.m. April 22 after a shooting was reported. A Carroll County deputy arrived and found a woman dead inside the residence. Court records and family notices identified the victim as Gayle R. Wilson, 75, a Carrollton resident who died at her home that night. Authorities said a witness was still at the scene, along with the suspect. The witness pointed officers to Sweeney, who was taken into custody without incident. “These charges are a mere accusation and not evidence of guilt,” the Missouri State Highway Patrol said in its release.

A probable cause statement described the shooting as sudden and said it followed an earlier dispute inside the home. The witness, identified in reports as Wilson’s husband and Sweeney’s grandfather, told investigators Sweeney had been seated on one couch for about 30 minutes before the gunfire. Wilson was seated on another couch in the same room. The witness said Sweeney took out a handgun and shot Wilson in the head “without warning.” Investigators said the argument earlier in the evening centered on Sweeney not doing his share of household chores. Officials have not said whether the handgun was recovered at the scene or whether any other people were inside the house when officers arrived.

The arrest came within minutes of the first reported call. According to the probable cause statement cited in court reporting, the deputy spoke with the witness, placed Sweeney under arrest at about 10:29 p.m. and found a holster on him. The document also said the deputy described Sweeney as a danger because of the allegation that he was willing to shoot and kill the victim inside the residence without warning. No injuries to responding officers were reported. The patrol said Sweeney, of Carrollton, was formally charged the next day, April 23, with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action.

Carrollton is the county seat of Carroll County, a small northwest Missouri community about 70 miles east of Kansas City. The shooting was reported in a residential area not far from the center of town. The address was described by authorities as being in the 100 block of West 14th Street. The case drew attention beyond Carroll County because of the family relationship among Sweeney, Wilson and West Wilson, a cast member on Bravo’s “Summer House,” who has been identified in entertainment coverage as a relative. Police and court records focus on the homicide case and do not place the television show at the center of the criminal allegations.

Gayle Wilson’s obituary said she was born Aug. 3, 1950, in Carroll County and lived in Carrollton. It described her as a Carrollton High School graduate who enjoyed creative work, including sewing and stained glass. The obituary also listed family members and memorial plans. Those details added a fuller picture of the woman whose name appeared first in public records only as a deceased female found inside a home. Funeral notices said Wilson died April 22 at her residence. Authorities have not released a separate public statement giving more personal details about her life or her family’s wishes.

The first-degree murder charge is the most serious count in the case. Under Missouri law, prosecutors must prove the elements of the offense in court, and Sweeney is presumed innocent unless convicted. The armed criminal action count is tied to the alleged use of a weapon during the crime. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said evidence supporting the charges must be presented before a court that will decide guilt or innocence. Sweeney was being held in the Caldwell County Jail on a no-bond warrant after the charges were filed. Reports from local outlets said an initial appearance was scheduled for the afternoon of April 24, though later court dates were not fully detailed in the patrol release.

Three agencies were named in the early investigation. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said its Division of Drug and Crime Control was handling the homicide investigation. The Carrollton Police Department requested the patrol’s help. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office also assisted, and a sheriff’s deputy was the officer who first found Wilson inside the residence. The patrol release listed Sgt. Justin Ewing as the contact for further information. Investigators also said people with information could reach Troop A headquarters, which is based in Lee’s Summit. Officials did not say whether they expected to release additional evidence before the case’s next hearing.

The public record so far leaves several questions unanswered. Authorities have not described what happened during the half hour before the shooting beyond the witness account that Sweeney was sitting on a couch. They have not said whether Sweeney made any statement to officers. They have not released a full timeline for the earlier chores dispute or described whether there had been prior police calls to the home. The probable cause statement gives the clearest account of the alleged shooting, but the case remains at the charging stage, where prosecutors have filed accusations and the defense has not presented its case at trial.

Currently, Sweeney remains in custody after the April 23 filing. The next major step is the court process in Carroll County, where prosecutors are expected to present evidence and the defense will have a chance to respond. State investigators said the homicide case remains under review.

Author note: Last updated May 19, 2026.