Pittsburgh-Area Woman Fatally Shot By Boyfriend: Police

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA — Children were inside a home when a woman was shot and killed by her boyfriend Wednesday in Rostraver Township, police said.

One of them called police around 10:52 to report the shooting.

WTAE-TV and WJAC-TV reported that when authorities arrived they found Robert Chaplin, described as highly intoxicated, standing outside the home of Estela Rivera Vasquez, 35.

Vasquez was found unresponsive in the basement. She was taken to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Shell casings and a firearm were found near where Vasquez was located, police said. According to a criminal complaint, Chaplin told police, "I didn't mean to shoot her," before yelling "I accidentally killed my girlfriend."

Chaplin has been charged with criminal homicide. He faces a preliminary hearing on Feb. 17.