Crime Arkansas Mom Shot in Face with Crossbow While Protecting Family, Drives Herself to Hospital Janet Partain arrived at the hospital severely injured but aware and alert By Chris Harris Chris Harris Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. An award-winning journalist who has worked for Rolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 15, 2019 12:53PM EST Photo: Cross County Sheriff's Office After being shot in the face with a crossbow, a 40-year-old Arkansas mother drove herself to the hospital on Monday with the arrow still lodged in the left side of her face. Police confirm in a statement Janet Partain arrived at the hospital severely injured but aware and alert. Speaking to WREG, Capt. Jeff Nichols of the Cross County Sheriff’s Office said it “was an odd sight to see someone with an arrow in their face and they’re still conscious and talking to me.” According to police, Partain was allegedly shot in the face by 34-year-old Joseph Avellino, after confronting him at his Wynne, Arkansas, home and accusing him of stealing unspecified items from her property nearby. Partain went to Avellino’s residence with her 14-year-old son and a nephew, who is 15. The police statement alleges the argument quickly escalated, with Avellino retrieving a crossbow and taking aim at the mom and the two boys. Investigators allege he fired one arrow, which pierced Partain’s face. Partain told WREG, “[He] was pointing the arrow at them and he fired a shot at one of them, and I pushed them out the way and I got hit.” She added, “I think I was in shock because once I got hit I said, ‘I can’t believe you almost shot that kid.'” • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Partain was long gone by the time police arrived at Avellino’s home, where he was arrested. He has been charged with first-degree battery and three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. It was unclear Friday if he had entered pleas to the charges he faces. PEOPLE was unable to determine if he has a lawyer. Online jail records show Avellino is no longer in police custody, but information about his bond amount was unavailable. Doctors successfully removed the arrow from Partain’s face Monday. She was reportedly released from the hospital on Tuesday.