North Carolina man claims he thought wife was intruder, accidentally shot, killed her
GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a North Carolina man claimed to have accidentally shot and killed his wife after mistaking her for an intruder, reports CBS affiliate WNCN.
Deputies were dispatched to a Goldsboro home just before 12:30 a.m. Friday in reference to a person being shot, authorities said.
When they arrived on the scene deputies found Gina Williams, 48, lying on the front porch by the door and suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Officials said her husband, Billy Williams, 49, was administering first aid to his wife.
The station reports that EMS personnel then arrived and pronounced Gina Williams dead at the scene.
A handgun reportedly seen on the porch was seized by deputies.
WNCN reports that authorities said that during interviews with the family, police determined that one of the two children inside the home heard a noise at the front door and thought someone was trying to break in to the house. The child then went to wake up her father and told him that someone was at the front door trying to get in.
According to authorities, Billy Williams said he got his handgun from a gun safe in his bedrooms and went to the front door, apparently unaware his wife - who worked a night shift and was not expected home until around 8 a.m. - had come home from work early.
Police said that the front porch light at the home was not turned on and Billy Williams was unaware that his wife was the one at the door when he fired one shot which hit her in the neck and killed her.
Deputies conducted additional interviews with other family members. No charges have been filed against Billy Williams at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.