Police: Man Fatally Shot Wife For Urging Him To Kill Himself
CHICORA (KDKA) -- A Butler county man is charged with killing his wife after he initially tried to take his own life.
Police say the man called them after allegedly shooting her.
Joshua Crawford, 30, told state police that he and his wife had gotten into a major argument inside of their Chicora home. He said that he planned on leaving the house, saying that he didn't want to fight anymore, but things did not end that peacefully.
It was just after 9 p.m. Sunday at 405 E. Slippery Rock Rd. where state police say Crawford shot and killed his wife Sarah.
Crawford told police that the two were yelling at one another for a while when Joshua Crawford said he was going to leave the house to go to his mother's.
When his wife allegedly called him several names, including a "mama's boy," Joshua Crawford said he was going to shoot himself.
The criminal complaint says he went to the kitchen and grabbed his hunting rifle that he had planned on using to hunt with Monday morning. Crawford reportedly took the loaded gun, put it under his chin and pulled the trigger, but the gun didn't fire.
After re-seating the loaded magazine, police say Crawford told them his wife Sarah was yelling at him to shoot himself.
That's when he reportedly lowered the rifle to his side, pointed it at Sarah and pulled the trigger.
He called state police and was arrested early Monday morning.
"He said exactly what happened, what happened beforehand, talked about their marriage, he has been very open with police," said Trooper James Long.
Crawford remains at the Butler County Prison. He's charged with homicide and aggravated assault.
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