Arrest made after man, upset over firing, fires 29 shots, sends threatening text messages

An Ozark County man, upset over being fired from his job, has been arrested after he fired 29 shots from an AK-47 outside his house located near the business and sent threatening text messages to former employees. Thirty-eight-year-old Samuel Miller of rural Gainesville is facing five felony charges following the incident Tuesday night.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office, Miller had been fired about two weeks ago from the job, but still rents a house about 100 yards from the business in Wasola. He had sent texts to several employees saying everyone involved in his firing would be held accountable. The deputy noted in the affidavit Miller appeared to be very unstable in his text messages and voice recordings.

The texts had started that afternoon. Shortly before 10 Tuesday night, the employees heard a long burst of gunfire come from Miller’s house. As they sought shelter in the factory, they saw his vehicle drive by.

The three victims whom Miller had texted told law enforcement Miller has an AK-47 and other guns. The shots they heard sounded like a full magazine of 20-30 shots. They also said Miller has bragged about beating a man severely and shown them pictures of the victim with blood splatter.

Deputies were unable to make contact with Miller Tuesday night, but returned Wednesday and found him at home. He said he shot his AK-47 to “blow off steam” but he did not shoot at anyone.

Deputies executed a search warrant at Miller’s house and found 29 spent shell casings along with nine firearms and two cell phones.

Miller is facing two counts of armed criminal action and one count each of second degree terroristic threatening and first degree harassment, all felonies. He is being held without bond in the Ozark County Jail.

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