Adams Township, Pennsylvania — A 44-year-old woman is accused of fatally shooting her husband during an argument over gun safety after allegedly pointing his 9mm handgun at his chest and pulling the trigger to “show him a lesson,” according to police and court documents.
Dawn Marie Freeman was taken into custody over the weekend and charged with one count of criminal homicide in the death of her 40-year-old husband, Bradley Freeman. She is also facing charges of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
The shooting happened at a residence in the 300 block of Mine Road in Adams Township.
Police Respond to Deadly Shooting
Pennsylvania State Police said troopers were called to the residence at approximately 6:37 p.m. on Oct. 4 after the local police department requested assistance with a death investigation.
During the investigation, authorities determined that Dawn Freeman and her husband had been involved in a “verbal argument” that ended with a firearm being discharged and Bradley Freeman’s death.
Police said there was no active threat to the public following the shooting.
Additional details emerged through a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Tribune-Democrat, outlining what investigators say happened inside the home.
Wife Allegedly Became Angry Over Unsecured Gun
According to the affidavit, Dawn Freeman told investigators that her husband had routinely left his 9mm handgun in unsecured locations where children could potentially reach it.
She allegedly said the issue had been a concern for at least two years.
On Sunday, Freeman reportedly returned home and found the handgun lying on a coffee table in the living room. She confronted her husband about leaving the firearm in a location she considered unsafe.
According to investigators, Bradley Freeman allegedly refused to move the weapon to a safer location. Dawn Freeman reportedly told investigators that she became “angry” over what she described as her husband’s obstinance.
She then allegedly picked up the handgun, pointed it toward her husband’s chest and pulled the trigger. According to the affidavit, she told investigators that she did so to “show him a lesson.”
Husband Dies From Gunshot Wound
After the shooting, Dawn Freeman reportedly told investigators that her husband fell face down onto the living room floor. She allegedly threw the firearm across the room and began screaming.
Dawn Freeman’s son was reportedly inside the home at the time. He performed CPR on Bradley Freeman while Dawn Freeman called 911.
Emergency medical personnel later arrived at the residence, but Bradley Freeman was pronounced dead.
Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees conducted an autopsy Monday and determined that Bradley Freeman’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Woman Allegedly Warned Husband for Years
During a voluntary interview with detectives, Dawn Freeman allegedly said she had “begged” her husband for years to stop leaving his firearm in locations where it could be accessed by children.
She reportedly told investigators that she had feared “something bad would happen” if the firearm continued to be left unsecured.
The investigation is now focused on the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the allegations outlined in the criminal complaint.
Dawn Freeman Jailed Without Bond
Dawn Freeman appeared in court for her arraignment Monday morning. According to court records, she was jailed without bond at Cambria County Prison following the hearing.
She faces a criminal homicide charge along with charges of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. The allegations against Freeman remain accusations at this stage, and the criminal case will proceed through the court system.
The deadly shooting has also drawn attention to the risks associated with unsecured firearms inside homes, particularly where children may have access to them. In this case, investigators allege that a long-running dispute over how the firearm was stored ultimately ended in a fatal shooting.
What are your thoughts on this case? Share your reaction in the comments and join the conversation about firearm safety and the tragic consequences that can follow when guns are not handled responsibly.
