Inset: Decarlo Pitchford (Shelby County Sheriff”s Office). Background: A house in Memphis where Pitchford allegedly shot his wife (Google Maps).
A man from Tennessee is currently imprisoned after allegedly shooting his wife and then taking her to the hospital, albeit after some delay, as suggested by authorities in Tennessee.
Decarlo Pitchford, 51, faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, domestic assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and theft of property valued between $1,000 and $2,500, based on records from the Shelby County court.
The incident allegedly occurred on July 19, at a residence on Fostoria Road in the West Junction neighborhood of southwest Memphis.
Prosecutors allege an argument between the couple began verbally – and eventually the woman decided to leave the house.
But the defendant allegedly blocked her from leaving, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
Then, during the commotion, a shot was fired from a 9 mm Ruger handgun, according to a complaint affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
According to the DA’s office and a report from Memphis-based CBS affiliate WREG, the defendant is said to have remarked to his wife, “I told you to stop playing with me,” when he pulled the trigger.
The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, authorities say.
Pitchford next decided to take his injured wife to Methodist University Hospital in his Dodge Ram, according to the affidavit.
But he was allegedly not in much of a hurry.
The defendant, at some point during the ride, stopped to get a beer, law enforcement claims.
The district attorney’s office highlighted Pitchford’s case as their “Case of the Day” in a Facebook press release earlier this week. This was after a judge confirmed the charges against him following a probable cause determination.
Initially, police responded to a report of a shooting at the couple’s residence and forced their way inside, only to find it vacant, according to an affidavit. Subsequently, they discovered the shooting victim at a nearby hospital.
The affidavit details the wife’s statement to officers, recounting that she and Decarlo Pitchford had a verbal argument. As she attempted to leave with her things, he allegedly tried to stop her and aggressively displayed a black handgun. While she was near the bathroom, Pitchford reportedly stood in the hallway, aimed the gun, and fired, hitting her in the abdomen. She insisted the shooting was deliberate, contradicting the suspect’s claim of it being accidental.
During an interview with police after being Mirandized, the defendant allegedly admitted to having the gun in his possession despite being a felon. He also allegedly “advised his gun was jammed and he was trying to clear it, and it went off accidentally shooting his wife,” according to the affidavit.
