Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Investigating 2 Homicides

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two homicides that happened in three days.  Deputies said they are not connected.

The undersheriff said they received a call about a death in the 14600 block of West Clyde Maher Road just before 9 p.m. Tuesday. That is in the Woodall area, southwest of Tahlequah.

A homeowner told deputies that she shot a burglary suspect who was beating on the doors and windows of the residence. The suspect was reportedly yelling, "If you don't come outside I'm gonna burn your house down."

The woman told investigators she has no idea who the man is. She fired warning shots then shot the man twice, according to CCSO.

“I just know it was him or her. And I thank God it wasn’t her. She had angels on her shoulders,” Johnny Shine said. Shine said he is the woman’s boyfriend.

Undersheriff Jason Chennault said the woman's neighbors confirmed her story, and she was not taken into custody. The district attorney will be reviewing what happened.

The man who was killed has been identified as 40-year-old Josh Montgomery.

The other homicide was about two miles south of Todd Access on the Illinois River, the undersheriff said. It took place around 2:20 a.m. Sunday.

People were having a party, and a man and woman got into a fight. Chennault said the two were dating.

The boyfriend beat the woman in the head with a stick, and another man intervened, the undersheriff said. The two men fought, then the man who intervened got a shotgun and shot the boyfriend.

The boyfriend, identified as Tim Ragsdale, died at the scene. The shooter was identified as James Mounce. Mounce was arrested.

“He was a convicted felon who had possession of a firearm, which is against the law. So that’s what we arrested him for,” Chennault said.

The district attorney is reviewing both homicides. Chennault said typically the sheriff’s office investigates two or three homicides a year. So far, this year, there have been five.