A Sunflower woman is reportedly recuperating and in good spirits after allegedly being shot by her estranged daughter-in-law on Sunday.
Sunflower County Sheriff James Haywood said his department received a call from an ambulance service on Tuesday night about a gunshot victim and found that Reola Carter, 61, 308 Quiver St., had been shot two days prior and had been nursing the wound herself since that time.
Haywood said the shooting reportedly took place outside of the city limits of Sunflower some time on Sunday and as of Wednesday morning, Stephanie Blackmon, who is allegedly in a relationship with one of Carter’s sons, has been named as a person of interest in the case.
According to Haywood, Carter said she didn’t tell anybody about the shooting because she believed her children would attempt to retaliate and she didn’t want any of them getting into trouble. “She held that bullet in her for two days, I don’t know how she did it,” Haywood said.
The bullet, which he said came from a small caliber handgun, hit Carter in the lower right side and the pain reportedly intensified so much over the 48-hour period that Carter had to call for medical attention.
Haywood stressed, “She didn’t want her kids to get in trouble. It’s a mother’s love.”
He said another of Carter’s sons was recently released from jail, and the mother did not want to incite her children to do anything that might jeopardize his parole.
He said a clear motive has not been established, but the assault is believed to be associated with the breakup between Blackmon and Carter’s son.
Haywood said they are still investigating and looking for Blackmon.
He is also asking for the public’s help to locate the woman and urges her to come in for her own safety.
