Man Laying In Bed With Gun In Waistband Accidentally Shot His Fiance In The Butt
A woman was brought into an emergency room in Washington with a gunshot wound to her buttock and leg, which apparently came from an accident involving her fiance - who is a felon.
At about 5:20am on July 6th, Whidbey Health in Coupeville reported to police that a woman had arrived at the emergency room with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her butt and leg.
She arrived at the hospital by private car from a home in Oak Harbor, without calling 911 for assistance.
Due to the nature of the injury, detectives went to the hospital to interview the woman, where they had notes on a previous incident in May from that same house that landed one person in the hospital with a stab wound.
After investigators presented the woman with information about the previous assault, the woman suddenly changed the story she was giving them, telling them the truth this time.
She told police that she and her fiance, who she knows is a convicted felon who is ineligible to possess a firearm, was laying in bed next to her with a gun in his waistband.
At some point overnight, the pistol apparently discharged, shooting the woman through the leg and butt.
Oak Harbor Police saw this as probable cause to arrest the fiance, James Mathis, on domestic violence charges, unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment.
As of July 15th, officers contacted Mathis and asked him to come down to the station and turn himself in.
Read more at KIRO 7