HOUSTON – A southwest Houston woman confessed to shooting her husband in their home Wednesday, but claimed it was an accident, Houston police said.
Officers responded to an emergency call at 2:30 a.m. from Sonia Whitford, 47, who said her husband had been shot and killed at their home in the 6500 block of Jackwood Street.
When officers arrived, they found Troy Whitford, 43, dead in the living room with a gunshot wound to the head. Police recovered a shotgun in the house.
"Upon arrival, they were met by the wife, who said that her husband was dead inside and shot inside, and we found him dead in the house," said Sgt. C.E. Elliot with HPD Homicide.
Detectives said the couple was drinking and the man was playing with his shotgun. Police said Sonia Whitford thought the shotgun was not loaded and pointed it at her husband's head, pulling the trigger.
Sonia Whitford was charged with manslaughter.
The couple has one child -- a 16-year-old boy with special needs. He was placed in CPS custody. Police said the son was home at the time of the shooting, but it was unclear whether he witnessed the crime.