Woman shot one day before divorce hearing

A Centerville man jailed on a charge of attempted murder Monday allegedly shot his wife the day before a scheduled court hearing in the couple's divorce proceedings.

Christina D. Watson was stable after emergency surgery Monday night at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, according to Centerville Police Department Chief Ed Buchholz. Watson suffered a gunshot wound to the torso, according to Buchholz, and was flown by LifeLine medical helicopter to Methodist.

Gene Ford, senior public relations coordinator for Methodist, said Tuesday morning the hospital had no information on Watson's condition.

Danny J. Watson, 44, was arrested on a Level 1 felony charge of attempted murder and lodged Monday in the Wayne County Jail without bond.

Buchholz said Danny Watson claimed the shooting was an accident and that he intended to harm himself during the incident in the front yard of his home at 602 E. South St.

"All we know at this point is there was some kind of verbal dispute and the male said he intended to harm himself," said Buchholz, who added police had not yet been able to speak with the victim as of Tuesday morning.

The couple, who have eight children, according to Buchholz, were due in Wayne County Superior Court I at 4 p.m. Tuesday for a hearing in divorce proceedings. Christina Watson, who listed 701 S. 13th St. in Richmond as her address in court documents, filed for divorce on April 28.

Buchholz said he was not aware of any previous domestic violence between the couple or of Danny Watson having any previous criminal record. Danny Watson did have a valid handgun permit, Buchholz said, and there was no indication drugs or alcohol were a factor in the incident.

Trent Howell and Jayme Altom of Contract Callers Inc. said they were reading Vectren meters in the neighborhood between Fourth Street and Linden Drive and heard the Watsons arguing. The argument was interrupted by a gun shot, they said.

Neighbor Tom Carlson of 507 E. South St. also said he heard a shot, then a lady yelling.

Buchholz said one shot was fired and the bullet was recovered by Detective Rick Thalls, a crime scene investigator for the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. Thalls followed the line of fire across the street and down three houses west to 503 E. South St.

"It was actually embedded in the siding," Buchholz said. "We did recover a projectile over there, but we'll have to send it for ballistics to see if it's a match."

Police arrived at about 1 p.m. Monday and found Danny Watson in the front yard holding a handgun to his head, Buchholz said.

Carlson said Christina Watson was on the ground toward the east end of the house near the garage, while Danny Watson had moved to the west corner of the house. Carlson said he saw Danny Watson with the gun to his head and with the gun in his mouth.

Buchholz said he dragged Christina Watson around the side of the house out of the line of fire so EMS personnel could begin treating her wound, then officers talked Danny Watson into laying down his gun and surrendering to police.

After Danny Watson was handcuffed, Christina Watson was wheeled on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance and transported to meet the LifeLine helicopter.