On December 10, 2016, a tragic incident unfolded in Mountain View, Missouri, claiming the life of 32-year-old Chet David Hockman, a White male resident of the area. The events took place at a home on West 2nd Street where Hockman was spending time with a friend, 33-year-old Mickey Collins. According to reports, the two men had been consuming alcohol when the situation turned deadly.
Collins was handling a firearm, specifically cycling rounds through a 12-gauge shotgun, when the weapon accidentally discharged. The blast struck Hockman in the chest, inflicting a severe and ultimately fatal injury.
Immediately following the discharge, Collins fled the residence but not to escape responsibility; he went directly to the Mountain View Police Department to report what had happened. He informed officers that he had just accidentally shot his friend. Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene on West 2nd Street, where they found Hockman critically wounded. Despite their efforts to render first aid and perform CPR, Hockman succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly moved from the immediate response to legal proceedings. Collins was taken into custody and subsequently charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon while intoxicated. The judicial process culminated the following year on October 6, 2017, when Collins entered a guilty plea to the charges. acknowledging his role in the death of his friend.
During the sentencing phase, the court took several factors into consideration, including the accidental nature of the shooting, Collins' immediate surrender and confession, and his genuine remorse. Under the terms of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to serve three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Meanwhile, Hockman was laid to rest at Mt. Zion Cemetery-Poe Hill following a graveside service, remembered by his community as an intelligent man who loved fishing and was deeply devoted to his children and siblings.
