Prosecutor: Ocean County, NJ, Wife Fatally Shoots Husband in the Face

Authorities in Ocean County say a woman fatally shot her husband in the face early Monday morning.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer says 44-year-old Antonia Ashford of Jackson has been charged with murder for shooting her husband, Roderick Ashford, at their home in Jackson Township. Ashford was also charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

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According to authorities, at around 2:15 Monday morning, Jackson Township Police Officers responded to a home after they received a 9-1-1 call about a man who had been shot. Responding officers found the body of Roderick Ashford on the floor with a gunshot wound to the face. After trying to save his life, Ashford was pronounced dead at the scene.

Billhimer's office says an investigation determined that Antonia Ashford pointed a handgun at Roderick Ashford and fired the weapon, causing his death.

Ashford was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail where she is being held pending a detention hearing.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.