Northland woman shoots husband once during domestic disturbance

A woman shot her husband in the chest last week after he allegedly choked her nearly unconscious after an argument at their Kansas City, Mo. residence.

According to court documents, Thomas Akers, 26, faces two misdemeanor charges in the incident — one for domestic assault and one for property damage. His wife has not been charged at this point.

Officers responded to an apartment off of NW Roanridge Road at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25 to a report of a shooting, according to court documents. Upon arrival, they found Akers on the front steps of the residence bleeding from his chest, and he was taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for a single gunshot wound to the chest.

According to his wife, Akers believed she was having an affair and confronted her about it. She said that he grabbed her and threatened to kill her and her family, according to her account.

In an attempt to get away from his attack, she went to her daughter’s room, and Akers then forced the door open, breaking the frame. He then allegedly ordered her out of the room and into the hallway where he forced himself on top of her and began to choke her.

Akers then stopped to go console the alleged victim’s daughter.

According to court documents, the woman took the opportunity to retrieve a handgun from her bedroom. When Akers entered the room, she pointed the gun at him, and he allegedly responded by throwing a phone that struck her in the mouth.

The woman claimed the contact caused her to flinch and pull the trigger on the handgun. She then called 911.

Upon arrival, officers noted bruising and swelling to her eye and left arm along with a swollen lip and scratches on her neck. They also recovered a .40 caliber handgun in the kitchen, a .40 shell casing in the master bedroom and a bullet hole in a closet door.

In an interview with authorities, Akers claimed he was leaving the apartment when his wife grabbed him and began kicking him. He claimed to have grabbed her to restrain her but denied strangling or assaulting his wife.

Akers did admit to kicking in the door in an attempt to retrieve his cell phone and that he did throw the phone at her after she pointed the gun at him.