Police: Man kills wife with rifle
DONEGAL TWP — State police arrested a 30-year-old man for fatally shooting his wife during an argument Sunday night at the couple's home.
Joshua P. Crawford told troopers that he initially tried to kill himself with a hunting rifle, authorities said. But the gun didn't fire.
While 30-year-old Sarah Crawford called him names and encouraged her husband to shoot himself, police said, the suspect turned the rifle on his wife.
She died of a single gunshot wound to the chest while seated on the living room sofa at the home at 405 E. Slippery Rock Road, according to investigators.
Joshua Crawford is being held without bail at the Butler County Prison. He is charged with homicide and aggravated assault.
A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 13 at the office of District Judge Lewis Stoughton in Chicora.
Police believe a quarrel shortly after 9 p.m. precipitated the shooting. At some point, according to court documents, Crawford told his wife that he was planning to leave the home and travel to his mother's house.
The defendant, in an interview with investigators at the barracks, claimed his wife was calling him derogatory names including a “momma's boy,” police said.
He told police that he went into the kitchen and grabbed his .30-06 rifle that was in the corner. He had planned to go deer hunting in the morning.
Along with the gun he grabbed a magazine that was already loaded, police said. He put the magazine into the rifle, worked the action and placed the barrel under his chin.
He recounted that he squeezed the trigger but the gun did not fire, according to police. He pulled out and then resealed the magazine in the rifle, again worked the action and aimed the gun on himself.
“While standing there with the rifle under his chin,” according to a police affidavit, “Sarah Crawford kept yelling at Joshua Crawford to shoot himself.”This time, he told police, he lowered the gun to his side, pointed it at his wife and pulled the trigger. The gun fired.A single round hit Sarah Crawford in the upper chest, and passed through her body, authorities said.The defendant at 9:09 p.m. called 911 to report killing his wife. “I ended up shooting her,” he told a dispatcher. “She's dead.”Butler County Chief Deputy Coroner John Hanovick pronounced Sarah Crawford dead at 11:36 p.m. He said he found her body on the living room sofa.While it appeared she died of a single gunshot wound, an autopsy was planned for today.Stoughton about 4 a.m. today arraigned Crawford, and later remanded him to the county prison.He is accused of a general count of homicide, which includes murder and manslaughter.In Pennsylvania, homicide is a nonbailable offense.At his arraignment, Crawford said he is the father of a 5-year-old child from a previous relationship and is employed at an asphalt paving company.
