A 74-year-old North Carolina woman was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting her husband during a domestic dispute and attempting to hide evidence before deputies arrived.
According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence in Monroe at approximately 2:26 p.m. on Friday following a “shots-fired” call.
The caller, identified as Patty Griffin, initially told dispatchers that she had accidentally shot her husband, Dennis Griffin, in the shoulder.
Upon arriving at the home, first responders alleged that the victim’s injuries did not match the initial report. As deputies and emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures, they determined that Dennis Griffin had been shot in the chest rather than the shoulder.
Following an investigation at the scene, detectives concluded that the shooting was the result of an argument regarding “past events.”
Investigators determined that Griffin “retrieved a .38-caliber handgun, pointed it at Dennis and pulled the trigger,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“After shooting her husband she then attempted to discard evidence before law enforcement could arrive,” the statement added.
After consulting with the district attorney’s office, investigators arrested Griffin and took her to the Union County Detention Center.
Griffin was charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bond following an appearance before a judicial official.
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