Husband Shoots Wife in Wapato Sunday Investigation Underway

A 74-year-old woman is dead after a shooting in Wapato at about 3:30 pm Sunday. Yakima County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 2100 block of Ashue Road after the granddaughter called 911 to report that she heard a gunshot while her grandparents were in an argument.

DEPUTIES FOUND THE VICTIM IN A BEDROOM OF THE HOME SUNDAY

When Deputies arrived they found 74-year-old Olivia Lawrence dead in a bedroom of the home. Detectives then started an investigation by speaking with the woman's 80-year-old husband, Don Lawrence. He told Deputies he and Olivia Lawrence were in an argument when she reached for a gun in a drawer saying she was going to kill herself.

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THE HUSBAND TOLD DEPUTIES HE THOUGHT HE UNLOADED THE GUN

Don Lawrence told investigators he grabbed and unloaded the gun while the two kept arguing. At some point he told the Deputies he pointed the gun at his wife thinking it was unloaded. He pulled the trigger and he says Olivia fell to the floor dead. He says he didn't know the gun was still loaded and didn't mean to shoot his wife.

THE GRANDFATHER/HUSBAND WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL

Don Lawrence was arrested and booked into the Yakima County jail. He's facing a charge of First Degree Manslaughter. No other injuries were reported as the investigation continues today.
an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

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