A 36-year-old man was arrested early Thursday after detectives say he shot and killed his pregnant wife as she ran to her car for safety, and then turned the gun on himself but failed to take his own life.
A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman confirmed that Paul Daniels, who remains at Delray Medical Center, was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder for killing his 27-year-old wife, Donna Daniels, who died at the scene.
Paul Daniels is also alleged to have shot his teenage son.
Deputies arrived at the around 2 a.m. outside of 4482 Stevens Road in suburban Lake Worth home and found the boy and his teenage sister crying, according to a Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit.
The girl told deputies, "My mom and dad got into a big fight inside the house and then outside. Dad pulled out a gun and shot mom," the affidavit says.
The girl said her dad then turned around and shot her brother.
"I thought he was going to shoot me so I ran," she added.
Deputies found Donna Daniels, who was five months pregnant, face down and unresponsive in a white Mitsubishi.
She was shot in the back numerous times while trying to escape, the affidavit says.
Paul Daniels was on the ground next to the car, breathing heavily and with a gunshot wound to his head. He had a 9mm gun beside him, the affidavit says.
Blanca and Berend Hartsuiker rented the home to the couple about two months ago.
Blanca Hartsuiker said the couple failed to pay their rent, ignored phone calls, and was recently given an eviction notice.
Vivian Chao, who lives in the same triplex as the couple, said she and her husband called police when they heard three gunshots early Thursday.
Chao, 22, said her husband looked outside of a window and saw Paul Daniels lying on the ground bleeding from his head.
Donna Daniels was planning to divorce her husband, Chao said.
"They were having some issues," she added.
The argument started in the home, when Paul Daniels tried choking his wife, Chao said.
Donna Daniels screamed to her daughter to call police and then they both ran to the car as Paul Daniels followed.
"I guess he just lost it," she said.
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