Tuesday, December 6, 2011

East Mesa, AZ: Mesa woman: Gun accidentally fired, killed boyfriend

An East Mesa woman said her gun accidentally went off and killed her boyfriend after she tried to scare him to prevent him from abusing her, police said Monday.

Donna Marie Diaz, 52, told detectives that after she shot Thomas Mark Wakeham, he yellled at her and advanced toward her, so she shot him again.

Police arrested Diaz on suspicion of second-degree murder, after concluding there was evidence of a struggle, but not the level of violence the woman described.

Diaz, who reported the shooting, said the violence started when she and Wakeham returned to their East Mesa home late Sunday after drinking at a bar. She said she fell asleep, but Wakeham woke her while checking her cellphone.

Diaz said Wakeham accused her of having an affair, grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her into the kitchen, according a police press release.

She said she tried to hide in a closet, but Wakeham dragged into the kitchen again. Diaz told police she then went back to the closet, retrieved a handgun, and confronted Wakeman while he was seated in the living room.

She said she pointed a the gun at Wakeham to scare him after he stood up and started calling her names.

Police said Diaz obtained an order of protection against Wakeham on June 29, but it was quashed Sept. 29.

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