The wife of a North Highlands man had to crawl to safety after she was hit by shotgun blast allegedly fired by her husband, Sacramento County sheriff's officials said.
The 71-year-old woman, shot in the head and upper body, was transported to a local hospital. Her husband, Christopher Miears, 54, was taken into custody after a deputy returned fire at the couple's home.
Miears was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, domestic violence and battery.
The dangerous situation escalated about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when deputies responded to a call regarding a man firing a shotgun into the air in the 6500 block of Melrose Drive. When deputies arrived, Miears was sitting on the front porch with his shotgun pointed at his wife.
The arrival of the deputies caused the man to retreat into the house. As deputies shouted directions to the woman, Miears allegedly fired several shots at her from inside the home.
That resulted in the victim being hit. A deputy who saw the man shoot, fired his weapon in return but did not hit the suspect.
The woman crawled toward deputies who rescued her and she was transported in a waiting ambulance to the hospital. Miears was taken into custody after a brief standoff.
The couple's 4-year-old granddaughter was in the home at the time of the gunfire but was not hurt. She was reunited with her parents.
The 32-year-old deputy who returned fire is a 10-year veteran of the department. He will be placed on administrative leave, as per the department's policy.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting will be investigated by the sheriff's homicide and internal affairs units.
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