On the morning of March 31, 2023, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a local business of a threat of a mass shooting. The business reported that that they had terminated the employment of an employee on March 30, 2023. The employee was living on the business property at the time. The business reported that a male who was living with the employee had sent a text message to another person stating that he was near “going on a killing spree”.
McCracken County Sheriff’s Deputy Gary Colyar responded to the scene and identified the former employee as 55 year old Sonya S. Leeds, of Gilbert, Arizona. The male that was living with Leeds was identified as 51 year old Edward E. Collett, of Mesa, Arizona. Leeds and Collett returned to the business to retrieve items they had left behind at approximately 11:00. Deputies and Detectives were at the scene when Leeds and Collett arrived.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and hotel room. Deputies located a loaded .40 caliber pistol in the trunk of the car. A search of the hotel room uncovered a 9mm Hipoint carbine, and quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Leeds and Collett have previous felony convictions that prohibit them from owning or possessing firearms. Collet has a lengthy criminal history from multiple states. Collett and Leeds were arrested without incident and transported to the McCracken County Regional Detention Facility.
Arrested-
Edward E. Collett
51 years of age
Mesa, Arizona
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun
Terroristic Threatening Third Degree
Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (methamphetamine)
Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Cocaine)
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Sonya Leeds
55 years of age
Gilbert, Arizona
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun
Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (methamphetamine)
Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree 1st Offense (cocaine)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia