North Olmsted Police are investigating a shooting that left a woman dead and her husband charged with murder.
Around 6:25 p.m., Friday, police were dispatched to the 31300 block of Lorain Road after 42-year-old Joseph Halpin called, saying his wife, 39-year-old Laura Hoopengardner, had a bullet wound in her lower abdomen.
"He described that they were having an argument. He ended up getting his gun for whatever reason, and when he chambered the round, it went off accidentally. That's all he told us," said Matthew Beck, Detective Lieutenant, North Olmsted Police Department
Upon arrival, police said Halpin tried to take his own life, but the gun malfunctioned and did not go off.
"When the initial officer arrived on scene and attempted to make entry in the home, Mr. Halpin was standing in the dining room with the gun pointed to his head, but as upon further inspection of the firearm, the casing never rejected, so there was no bullet to fire," said Beck.
The Halpin was taken into custody, and police on scene rendered aid to the Hoopengardner before she was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Lt. Beck added that a child was in the home when everything occurred. The child was not harmed and is with other family members now.
Police tell us the couple were married for 10 years and have no record involving any type of domestic violence.
Two days after the shooting, Haplin was charged with murder, appearing for the first time in court on Monday.
