TORONTO - A city man's condition was unknown as of this afternoon after being shot by his wife, who later turned the gun on herself and died Monday.
Terry Dear, 26, of 1320 Kennelworth Ave. was flown by medical helicopter to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the back after City Police answered a call from Jefferson County 911 of a domestic dispute at the residence, according to City Police Chief Randy Henry.
Also, his wife, Martha Dear, 24 of the same address, died Monday of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest after shooting her husband, said Henry.
"The call came in at 12:35 p.m.," said Henry, adding police tried to enter the residence through the front. "We got a call from 911 the male had been shot in the back by his wife. She then fled the scene."
Police arrived to find the victim with "a hole in his back where he'd been shot, along with their two small children standing there."
According to Henry, police issued an all-points bulletin for the woman and a description of the vehicle she was driving to neighboring municipalities.
"She fled the scene, and we notified (neighboring) agencies," continued Henry. "She was considered armed and dangerous. We knew it wasn't good because she fled the scene and left her children there."
Henry said at 1:48 p.m. Mingo Junction Police spotted the vehicle and attempted to pull the driver over.
"(Mingo Police) responded to our bulletin, and they attempted to stop her," said Henry, adding the vehicle was traveling on McLister Avenue. "She then shot herself in the chest. The car drifted off an embankment and came to rest in front of a residence."
Martha Dear died en route to the hospital, said Henry. He also said the man suffered "significant injuries," but his condition wasn't known. Henry said the incident was especially disturbing because the two children witnessed the shooting.
"The little girl told us, 'Mommy shot daddy,'" he said. "(Jefferson County) Children's Services was called. The father's mother has taken custody of the children."
Henry said he wasn't sure what the couple were arguing about. He added the Jefferson County sheriff, Mingo Police and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation and Identification also were involved. The incident still is under investigation, he added.
