Monday, October 12, 2009

Armstrong, PA: Armstrong man shoots self after wounding estranged wife

A female victim of an attempted murder/suicide in Manor Township at 3:10 a.m. Saturday survived the attack, according to officials close to the investigation.

Michelle Cousins, 41, of Manor Drive, was attacked by her estranged husband Wesley Lane Cousins, 47, of Washington Township, according to state police. Michelle Cousins had a protection from abuse order against the man.

Wesley Cousins entered Michelle Cousins' residence armed with a semi-automatic pistol and revolver and fired the pistol at the woman several times, severely wounding her abdomen, hand and lower torso, police said.

Michelle Cousins called 911 and was transported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Her current condition is unknown as the hospital was unable to release information.

Wesley Cousins shot himself in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Coroner Bob Bower. Cousins' body was found in a bedroom, Bower said.

State police, Manor Township and Kittanning officers were assisted at the scene by Ford City ambulance.

Saturday's incident was the third such attack in the county in about five weeks.

Harold "Butch" Goldstrohm Jr., 47, shot and killed Holly Goldstrohm, 44, both of Rural Valley before turning the gun on himself on Sept. 5.

On Sept. 19, Jason Daugherty, 30, fatally shot his former live-in girlfriend Vanessa Nickzad, 25, and wounded her boyfriend Samuel Walker, 28, both from Leechburg.

Possessiveness and jealousy played a role in the three incidents, said Jo Ellen Bowman, executive director of Helping All Victims In Need (HAVIN), a Kittanning domestic violence shelter.

Bowman encouraged family, friends and co-workers of perpetrators of domestic violence to take threats seriously and alert victims and law enforcement.

"Those who violate PFAs (protection from abuse orders) are more lethal because they have no respect for authority and simply do not care," she said. "Violations of PFAs should be taken very seriously."

Nickzad had a protection from abuse order against her former partner, according to previous reports, as did Michelle Cousins.

Perpetrators who make comments that "they have nothing to lose" now that the victim is out of their lives can be potentially dangerous, Bowman said.

"If a domestic violence perpetrator is suicidal, they often commit homicide, then suicide ... nothing for them to lose and they once again are in control," she said.

Victims of domestic violence understand that leaving such a situation can be dangerous and result in "separation violence," Bowman said.

"Often the violence escalates because perpetrators feel that they are no longer in control of their victims and is often when the most aggravated assault and homicides occur," she said. "This should not be interpreted that a victim should stay, but if they leave, they need to do it as safely as possible."

Some red flags that can indicate a potentially dangerous domestic violence situation are thoughts that the perpetrator "owns the victim," controlling behavior and money, jealousy, false accusations of infidelity, stalking, threats of suicide or homicide and threats to harm the victim's children, pets, family, friends or co-workers.

Domestic violence programs can conduct assessments and safety plans for victims, including PFAs, Bowman said.

She encouraged victims and others who know of unhealthy relationships to seek help.

"The bottom line is that there is one person responsible for domestic violence -- that is the perpetrator," she said. "No one has the right to control their partners, we do not 'own' each other. Healthy relationships are based on respect, caring and sharing."

No comments: