An Indiana man is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and his child’s mother with a sawed-off shotgun after an argument at their house.
Charles Franklin, 26, is charged with murder, domestic abuse in the presence of a child under the age of 16, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a major violent criminal, according to court records. He is being held at the Lake County Jail.
Franklin and his girlfriend, Arrianna Miles, 26, were at home on Monday in the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Street. Their 11-month-old kid was also present, according to a probable cause document reviewed by the Post-Tribune.
The couple was arguing, and Miles apparently discussed forcing him out of the house, bringing up earlier disagreements, such as his cheating on her. According to Franklin, Miles took a sawed-off shotgun from a closet, and the two started fighting. Then the gun discharged.
Franklin called 911 and reported Miles had been shot. When the dispatcher questioned if the shooting was deliberate, he apparently hesitated before responding “no,” prompting Miles to say, “Why would you do that?”
The shooting victim said, “I’m dying,” and “take me outside” before going silent, according to the affidavit.
When Gary police arrived at the home, they discovered Miles on a sofa with a gunshot wound and a crimson smear on her belly. “Please get him away from me,” woman implored the authorities, the Post-Tribune reports.
She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her autopsy found that she died from a close-range gunshot wound, and detectives questioned Franklin’s claim that she was holding the gun when it went off.
For starters, the rifle was purportedly fired from a downward angle. Officers were also curious as to why five 12-gauge shotgun shells identical to the one discharged were discovered laying around the property.
According to court documents, Franklin is also charged with domestic violence in April and intimidation in May. On Thursday, he was set to appear in court for his initial hearing.
