A 27-year-old man in Florida has been arrested after reportedly shooting his wife in the neck by accident, telling authorities that the incident occurred while he was putting his gun away after “doing some cocaine.”
Sean William Wollard was arrested on Monday and charged with one weapon offense: using a firearm while under the influence, according to records examined by Law&Crime.
According to a probable cause affidavit, at 1:37 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, deputies from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of a shooting at a home in the 1200 block of SW 28th Road in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just under 30 miles north of Miami.
First responders claimed they found a woman with a gunshot wound to the neck. Wollard was on the scene, holding a blanket over the victim’s neck wound.
A deputy directed Wollard to get away from the victim, stating that he was “hesitant, but eventually got up.” While emergency medical workers were treating the wounded, she told authorities that the gunshot “was an accident” and that Woolard “didn’t mean to do it.”
Paramedics took the victim to the Broward Health Medical Center for treatment. Doctors gave authorities with a preliminary report suggesting that the victim’s gunshot wound could cause paralysis from the neck down.
While deputies were present, Wollard allegedly made multiple unprompted and incriminating statements, according to the affidavit.
“The defendant stated, ‘We were looking for the cat all day, we came inside, turned on a movie and did some cocaine,'” according to the documents. “I went to put away the firearm and the gun went off.”
Officers read Wollard his Miranda rights, and he refused to disclose the shooting. However, investigators said that Wollard made several further unprompted remarks, indicating that “he doesn’t remember much and his memory was foggy.”
Authorities stated numerous open bottles of alcohol were visible inside Wollard’s residence, as was a “white powdery substance” on a coffee table.
“Three firearms were located in the same room, two were in holsters, however, the firearm used in the incident was not secure,” claims the affidavit.
“The defendant did physically and willfully handle the pistol while under the influence of cocaine, as the defendant stated. “The defendant discharged the firearm while in possession of it, striking the victim.”
Police said Wollard and his wife have been lawfully married since 2018.
Wollard made his first court appearance on Wednesday, when the judge set his bond at $15,000. He was released after posting bond on the condition that he wear a GPS monitor and have a substance abuse evaluation within ten days.
He will also be subjected to random drug and alcohol testing and is not permitted to carry firearms or ammunition while the case is underway.