Co. Commissioner Reportedly Shot While Trying To Stop Wife's Suicide Attempt
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (KDKA) -- A woman charged with shooting her husband, a Fayette County commissioner, told police the man had been abusing her, but then later changed her story.
Police rushed to Crestvue Drive in South Union Township around 1 a.m. Sunday, where they found 56-year-old Vincent Vicites suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. His wife, 47-year-old Deanna Vicites was located outside the front door of the home, curled up on her side.
Officials said Vicites was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Officials provided an update on Monday morning.
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"At that time, he underwent surgery. He has undergone another surgery yesterday afternoon. He is not out of the woods as of yet. There will probably be more surgeries he has to go through. Furthermore, as a result of the investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, the wife of Commissioner Vicites, Deanna Vicites, has been arrested for attempted criminal homicide," District Attorney Rich Bower said.
According to a criminal complaint, Deanna Vicites told police that she had been abused by her husband for a long time and that Vincent Vicites was choking her, so she acted in self defense.
Later, while being interviewed by an officer, the woman changed her story, saying that she was depressed, suicidal and had been drinking. She said she put the gun to her head, and when her husband tried to grab it, it went off.
She has been charged with attempted homicide, along with other assault and firearm charges. Court records show Deanna plead guilty in 2002 on conspiracy to commit burglary charges.
Vincent Vicites shook his head "yes" and "no," to questions from police while in the hospital. He gave conflicting accounts of the incident, but insisted that the shooting was an accident.
