Man Accused Of Firing Shot At Property Owner In Confrontation

A confrontation over alleged trespassing escalated into a shooting incident on Nov. 1 in Franklin County. Authorities say a man fired a shot at a property owner after being confronted for parking on private land.

William Ray White, of Byrnes Mill, faces charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the incident. White, a convicted felon, is being held without bond as the investigation continues.

According to court documents, the incident began when the victim discovered White and a woman, identified as Stephanie Reynolds, trespassing on his property in the 90 block of Springhill Road. The victim asked the pair to leave, and they initially drove off in a mid-2000s red Chevrolet Silverado. However, the victim later found the truck parked further down his private driveway.

After the suspects sped away again, the victim followed them at a distance to ensure they left the area. The suspects turned onto Grand Army Road, where the victim later observed their truck parked in the roadway. While seated in his vehicle, the victim saw White exit the truck, produce a black handgun, and fire a single shot in his direction. The bullet missed, and the suspects fled the scene.

The victim, who has extensive military and firearms training, identified the weapon as a Glock pistol and provided detailed descriptions of the truck and its unique features. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol later connected White to the incident through a series of investigations.

Three days after the shooting, a red 2004 Chevrolet Silverado matching the victim’s description was involved in a hit-and-run crash, and the driver fled the scene on foot. Authorities executed a search warrant on the abandoned vehicle, recovering Glock pistol magazines, personal items linked to White and Reynolds, and location data from an iPhone.

The phone’s GPS data placed White in the area of the victim’s property and at the scene of the shooting during the time of the incident. Photos and messages on the phone also tied White to the truck and the firearm.

On Nov. 27, detectives arrested White after a brief vehicle pursuit. Inside his vehicle, investigators found a loaded black Glock .40 caliber handgun matching the magazines found in the abandoned truck.

As a convicted felon, White is prohibited from possessing firearms. His criminal history includes multiple first-degree assault charges, weapons violations, narcotics possession, and parole violations. Reynolds has not yet been charged in connection with the incident.