Crime & Safety
NJ Man Shot Wife In Head On NYE In Front Of Landlord: Affidavit
Daniel Williams wrestled with his landlord for control of the gun before fleeing, documents say.
ALLENTOWN, NJ — A 52-year-old man ended an argument with his wife over finances by shooting her in the head in front of their landlord on New Year’s Eve, according to court documents.
Daniel Williams sent a text to the landlord prior to the shooting that said he had the four months of rent money he owed, and the two planned to meet in the backyard with Williams’ wife present, the affidavit said.
While meeting outside shortly before 1 p.m., Williams took a gun out of his sweatshirt, pointed the gun at his wife and shot and grazed her in the back of the head, despite having shaky hands from a prior medical incident, according to court documents.
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The landlord said he wrestled with Williams for 10 minutes to get the gun away from him, which he ultimately did. Williams then went back into his home as the landlord followed him, the affidavit said.
Williams’ wife called 911 to report that she was shot in the back of her head and could not hear or see, and said that her husband had shot her. During the call, Williams’ wife said her husband was still at their home arguing with the landlord and that a child was present, court documents said.
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New Jersey State Police, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Allentown Police Department responded and found Williams’ wife, who was conscious and alert, at the home with a child. She was brought to a local hospital for her injuries and suffered a wound to the head, though her injuries were not deemed life-threatening.
The child was also found unharmed and told authorities that he saw his mother and father arguing over bills when he heard a loud noise and saw his mother bleeding and his father with a gun, the affidavit said.
Williams had fled the scene by the time authorities arrived, triggering a search. The hunt led to a shelter-in-place throughout Allentown that lasted for nearly five hours.
Williams was found by police at 6:57 p.m. the same day and brought to the Robbinsville Township Police Department.
He was charged with attempted murder, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, prosecutors said.
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