The vast majority of couples in Missouri experience some degree of conflict in their relationships. Most of this conflict is verbal and rarely results in physical violence. However, a woman was recently arrested and accused of assault following the shooting of her husband, a police officer with a high rank.
The incident that led to the woman’s arrest happened one night in late November. According to reports, the 46-year-old and her husband, the deputy chief, had reportedly attended a charity event earlier in the night. Police say that the woman admitted to being intoxicated at the time of the alleged shooting.
While the details of the events leading to the incident are unclear, police claim that the woman admitted to shooting her husband. Police say that she gave different accounts of the events but in one claimed that her husband was attempting to strangle her. Her husband, who is on medical leave until cleared mentally and physically, said he could not comment on the shooting other than to say that it “sounded worse than it actually was” and that the shooting was an accident. The woman has since been charged with armed criminal action and first-degree assault.
Even if the woman seemed confused about the events of the night, it is unclear how Missouri officers determined that the woman did not act in order to protect her life. In an event such as this where assault is suspected, it is often helpful to have an experienced attorney working on a suspect’s behalf even before charges are filed. A legal professional can help ensure that a person’s rights are protected and that he or she fully understands the implications of any information given to police.
Source: wgntv.com, “Missouri police officer allegedly shot by his intoxicated wife“, Nov. 29, 2017