YELL COUNTY, AR – A local man has been charged in a shooting that injured his wife and led to the death of their unborn child.
Samuel Lee Ward, 26, is charged with Murder 1st Degree and Battery in the July 31 incident at the home in Rover he shared with Shauna M. Ward.
Samuel Lee Ward, 26, is charged with Murder 1st Degree and Battery in the July 31 incident at the home in Rover he shared with Shauna M. Ward.
It happened shortly after 9 that evening, leaving Mrs. Ward in critical condition with a shotgun blast to the back.
According to Mr. Ward’s arrest affidavit, the shooting happened during an argument over his alleged contact with other women.
Mrs. Ward, who was 20 weeks pregnant when she was shot, delivered a baby girl at a Little Rock hospital. The infant died a short time later and her body was taken to the State Crime Lab for an autopsy.
The arrest report described the woman’s wounds as being in a pattern that spread across her back from arm to arm.
Investigators reported that Mr. Ward said he felt bad about his wife’s injuries but showed very little emotion over her condition. He also mentioned “blacking out” but deputies say his description of what happened made that appear unlikely.