By Roger Lanse
On Tuesday, April 24, at about 5:23 p.m., Grant County Sheriff’s deputies were informed by the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority that a 50-year-old female weighing about 148 pounds and standing approximately 5’3” was waiting outside the GCSD to speak with officers. The woman told dispatchers she had shot her 55-year-old, approximately 210 pound-6’0 tall, husband in the leg because he wouldn’t let her leave and she was tired of him beating her.
When a female deputy stepped outside to speak with the woman the woman stated the following according to a GCSD offense report “I just shot my husband. He would not let me leave. Again. I told him if you do not let me leave, I’m gonna shoot you. So I did. She wouldn’t mind if he left. She shot him in the left leg lower calf. She showed me (the deputy) scrapes on her back and elbow she said happened during the fight.”
The report continued, stating that the woman said she hit her head on the concrete when her husband threw her, but she declined medical services. She also pointed out the 9mm Glock pistol was on the dash of her 2012 Dodge Ram along with a magazine, ammunition and holster.
Deputies were then dispatched to the scene of the shooting at 83 Thunder Road, Silver City, where they encountered the husband who had a bandage around his left ankle, the report said. When deputies asked him what happened, man replied that nothing happened, that it was an accident. In answer to deputies’ question the man stated his name was “Fred Flintstone,” ordered deputies off his property, and walked back to his residence. One deputy’s report stated that deputies at this time observed the male drinking beer from a bottle and what appeared to be liquor from a small glass.
According to the report, a New Mexico State Police officer then arrived on scene, and using his vehicle’s PA system, began to call the man out of his residence. The male did exit the home and said he and his wife were having an argument and he pushed her and she tripped or fell onto the ground. According to the report, the man further stated that his wife got up, went to her truck, and got a gun. The report stated the male then said, “Don’t you point a gun at me,” and she shot it. He also said, “She didn’t mean to shoot me with it,” and stated that he loves his wife.
According to GCSD staff, as of April 30, the case remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.