Man charged after accidentally shooting himself during struggle: Complaint

SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) – A man is facing several charges after accidentally shooting himself during a struggle with a woman last week in Sharon, according to court documents.

Eric King, 33, was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on Saturday. He is expected to be transferred to Mercer County to face his charges of burglary, strangulation, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of children and robbery.

According to a criminal complaint, officers were sent to the 800 block of Thomas Ave. at 12:15 a.m. Thursday for a report of shots fired. They found King with a gunshot wound.

A woman told police that she and King had been drinking at a local bar around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and that they had gotten into an argument. The woman said she walked home, while King stayed and continued to drink.

She said while she was at home, King called her multiple times saying he was coming over. She told him that he was not welcome at her home, the complaint stated.

The woman said King arrived around midnight, kicking the door to her home and eventually forcing his way inside, grabbing and strangling her. The woman said she was involved in a struggle with King in which she momentarily lost consciousness. She said when she regained consciousness, she grabbed a gun she had hidden behind her microwave, and the two then fought over control of the weapon, the report stated.

The woman said during this struggle, King accidentally shot himself.

The complaint stated that the woman’s children were upstairs at the time.

According to the complaint, King has a protection order against him, which bars him from having any firearms.

King was treated for his injuries and then booked into the Mahoning County Jail on Saturday. He is expected to be transferred to Mercer County to face his charges there.

Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report.

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