West Wilson's cousin, Dakota Sweeney, has been arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of their grandmother, Gayle R. Wilson. According to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Dakota, 28, "knowingly caused the death" of Gayle by shooting her. He was also charged with armed criminal action.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's probable cause statement, Carroll County law enforcement officials were "notified of a homicide" on Wednesday, April 22. After responding to the residence, they found "Victim #1" dead inside. Also inside the home were Dakota and "Witness #1." Victim No. 1 and Witness No. 1 are identified in the statement as "the grandparents of Sweeney."
The probable cause statement details that Dakota's grandfather witnessed Dakota sitting on a "couch next to Victim #1 for approximately 30 minutes and without warning shot Victim #1 in the head." Dakota's grandfather also alleges that "earlier in the evening, Sweeney and Victim #1 had been in a disagreement about Sweeney not assisting with chores around the residence."
Sweeney was taken into custody, and officers located a "holster" on him. According to the warrant for Dakota's arrest, authorities requested that he be held "without bond," and per a separate order, he must also submit for fingerprinting for both felonies. His bond appearance hearing is currently scheduled for Wednesday, May 6.
West, 31, is currently a cast member on Bravo's Summer House. Gayle's killing happened one day before West sat down for a taping of the reality series' season 10 reunion special. According to an online obituary for Gayle, she had seven grandkids and one great-grandchild. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Roger. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 2.
