STUART, FLORIDA — A man called 911 around 1:30 a.m. on October 5th, frantically telling dispatchers that he had accidentally shot his wife, according to Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. “He clearly said, ‘I shot my wife by accident.’ It was hard to listen to. Clearly a man in horrible anguish, extremely distraught.”, added the Sheriff.
Arriving officers found the man outside the home yelling for help, with their 2-year-old child by his side. Their report states that he told officers that he shot his wife by accident and that his “life is over”.
The woman, who was 6 months pregnant, was found with a gunshot wound to the head. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. Doctors were able to deliver the baby, who is listed in critical condition.
The man gave detectives a detailed account of the incident, according to Snyder, saying that he heard a noise outside of the couple’s bedroom door. ”He was asleep. He thought there was an intruder in the house heard noises. He reached over to feel for his wife, and unfortunately what he felt turned out to be his dog”, said the Sheriff.
Forensic examiners were on the scene all day Wednesday and remained on scene until darkness fell to observe and document the lighting conditions during the time of the incident. Officers located a handgun with an attached light that was turned on next to the woman, and another handgun was located on a dresser in the couple’s bedroom.
The identities of the couple, who were both in their thirties, were not released and the investigation is continuing. A 2-year-old who was also in the home was uninjured.
Sheriff Snyder offered some sobering advice to others, saying “If you keep a gun within easy access because you think you might need it to protect your home, you have to be extremely careful. When you make that decision to pull that trigger, you’ve got to know what you’re shooting at, who you’re shooting at.
