OLIVIA — A 35-year-old Hector woman is scheduled to appear in Renville County District Court Monday on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Elizabeth Perry Lynch allegedly called law enforcement at 1 a.m. Thursday to say she had shot her boyfriend Tony, later identified as Anthony Tebben. No age was available for Tebben.

Lynch was arrested later that day and is set to appear in court 11:30 a.m. Monday for a bail hearing.

Lynch allegedly told authorities that she had pointed the gun at Tebben, not sure it was loaded, and it went off when she flinched.

The first officer on the scene was familiar with the defendant, and she addressed him by name and allegedly said, “I shot him” and asked if an ambulance was on the way, according to court records.

The officer found Tebben lying on his right side on the floor with a pool of blood. His breathing was labored. Tebben was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he later died.

Several children were found upstairs in the home and were taken into protective custody.

A black semi-automatic handgun was found just inside the door.

While law enforcement officers waited for a search warrant for the home and to seize the gun, Lynch agreed to go to the Renville County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed. According to the criminal complaint, Lynch was not under arrest and made several voluntary statements to Hector Police Chief Zachary Pierce.

Pierce reported that she said she had purchased the gun Wednesday. She was mad because Tebben had thrown a plate and broken it. According to court records, Lynch said she pointed the gun at Tebben after he approached her in an aggressive manner. She allegedly did not know if it was loaded properly or ready to fire.

Lynch told authorities Tebben had mocked her when she pointed the gun and told her in vulgar language that she wouldn’t shoot. Lynch said she must have flinched, and the weapon discharged. She admitted not knowing how to use the gun yet, according to the criminal complaint.

She told authorities she did not remember pointing the gun at Tebben’s face, according to the complaint. She said she was scared that Tebben might hit her and alleged past domestic abuse in their relationship.

According to the criminal complaint, a preliminary autopsy by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office found there was a gun muzzle burn on Tebben’s head, and the bullet traveled downward. The injury would be inconsistent with Lynch’s description of the weapon firing when she flinched, according to the autopsy report.

The Renville County Sheriff’s Office and the MinnesotaBureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting the Hector Police Department in the investigation.







