William Mills
LONDON — A Danville man accused of shooting his son-in-law in Laurel County allegedly took a number of steps to plan the crime and avoid being implicated, according to court records.
William Mills, 57, of 1205 Hustonville Road, borrowed a shotgun the night of Aug. 12 and placed surgical gloves over his hands, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in Laurel County District Court. Mills allegedly placed duct tape over his vehicle license plate to help conceal his identity as he drove from Danville to Laurel County, according to the document.
When he arrived at the house of his son-in-law, William McDougall, Mills fired two shots into the door lock of the East Bernstadt residence, according to the arrest report. Mills then entered the home and allegedly shot McDougall once. The men engaged in a physical struggle over the gun which was interrupted when state and local police arrived at the scene. Mills was still trying to regain control of the weapon when authorities entered the home, according to the police report.
McDougall and Mills’ daughter are going through a difficult divorce which provoked the altercation between the men, Trooper Don Trosper said in a recent telephone interview.
“(Mills) had unlawfully entered the residence with firearm with intent to commit the crime of murder,” wrote Trooper Steve Walker in his report about the alleged events of Aug. 12.
Mills was arrested on felony charges of attempted murder and first-degree burglary. He bonded out of custody two days after his arrest. The conditions of his $50,000 bond require Mills to be on home incarceration until further notice. He was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Laurel County District Court in London. However, Judge Wendell “Skip” Hammons Jr. continued the case until Sept. 6 upon the attorneys’ request.
Mills’ attorney, Kelly Ridings of London, declined comment. Mills faces 20 to 50 years imprisonment if convicted of attempted murder and an additional 10 to 20 years incarceration if convicted of first-degree burglary.
McDougall was released from the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Lexington a few days after the shooting.
