DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA: A 45-year-old man from Indiana was arrested after reportedly shooting his wife seven times in front of his two children to "neutralize a threat," according to police.
According to Dearborn County Circuit Court records, Mohammed Mondal was charged on Monday, November 6, with two counts of neglect of a dependent and murder using a handgun.
He turned himself in after the incident and is currently being held without bond at the Dearborn Law Enforcement Center. His first court appearance was on Thursday, November 9
Why did Mohammad Mondal shoot his wife?
According to authorities, the Mondals were driving from their Bright home to an appointment at JCPenney to have photographs made of their two youngest children, aged 14 months and two months, when Mohammed Mondal allegedly shot his wife, Stacy, seven times.
"After leaving to go to the photo appointment, (Mondal) said that he and Stacy began arguing, and she struck him with her cellphone," according to police.
"Mondal then stated that she dropped the cellphone and reached for a gun that was lying in the open center console," according to the affidavit. "Mondal then stated that he reached for a gun on his person and shot Stacy."
Prosecuting attorney Lynn Deddens claimed that the shooting occurred in their car while two of their kids were in the backseat.
Mondal disclosed to investigators that he thought his wife was having an affair and that he and his wife were having marital issues.
"(Mondal) stated that he believed (Stacy) had an affair with a neighbor… in the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Mondal believed that at least two men in his neighborhood previously had an affair with Stacy and that at least one of them had been following him… Mondal also believed that his father-in-law was following him on the day of the shooting," the affidavit read.
Nevertheless, investigators noted in the affidavit that they were unable to find any proof of Stacy's purported adultery.
After reporting to 911 that he had "accidentally shot his wife," the 45-year-old father of two later changed his story to claim he had shot Stacy Mondal "in self-defense."
"Sgt. McAllister said he answered the phone, and by the tone of Mondal's voice, he seemed to be panicked and upset," according to the affidavit.
"Are you serious?" the Sergeant of the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department allegedly inquired, before requesting Mondal's location.
Sheriff's deputies responded to the intersection of Kilby Road and U.S. 50 at the Ohio-Indiana border to escort Mondal's SUV to St. Elizabeth Dearborn Hospital, where Stacy Mondal was declared dead at the age of 40.
As per the affidavit, Mondal's wife was found by the officers in the parking lot, covered in blood, and she was "slumped to the left side toward the center console."
The report states that a small black handgun was discovered close to the woman's feet on the passenger side floor.
Upon informing Mondal that his wife had been pronounced dead, the man told them "for the first time" that "Stacy (Mondal) pointed the gun at him before he shot her," police reported.
However, investigators noted that they were unable to find any proof that Stacy had fired a shot during the altercation.
What did Stacy's family say?
An autopsy performed by the Hamilton County Coroner reported that Stacy Mondal received seven gunshot wounds, all of which entered the left arm, side, shoulder, and torso of her body.
The cause of death resulted from perforations to the heart, lungs, and liver.
Cameras were not allowed inside the Indiana courtroom where Mondal faced a judge on Thursday, November 9.
In court, Mondal's attorneys argued self-defense, but detectives testified that he gave conflicting statements in prior interviews.
In his final interview, Mondal allegedly said that he fired seven shots at his wife to "neutralize a threat" and insisted that he was "not the bad guy."
The Stacy family stated in an interview with the local media station WLWT that their primary focus right now is "to love and support" the five children of the deceased mother.
They released a statement saying, "We are being comforted by family, friends, and the outpouring of compassion by our community." They added, "Stacy's spirit will continue to live on."
