Kristine Guerra

kristine.guerra@indystar.com

A 65-year-old Carmel woman who is accused of trying to shoot her husband planned to shoot him and then herself, according to court documents.

Police said Sheryl Sommerkamp was arrested after allegedly shooting at her husband twice. Officers responded to a domestic disturbance call about 1 a.m. Wednesday in the 11600 block of Rosemeade Drive, according to the Carmel Police Department.

The couple, who have been married for 40 years, have been considering separation for weeks and have been sleeping in separate bedrooms, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Sommerkamp told police she got upset at her husband, John Sommerkamp, 67, after he told her to look for her own place, according to court documents.

Late Tuesday, Sheryl Sommerkamp, who was sleeping alone in the master bedroom downstairs, said she heard her husband walk in, take a Lady Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver she kept in her night stand and go back upstairs to his bedroom, documents said. She said that made her angry, so she went to her husband’s bedroom to get the gun. She said the gun went off as they struggled for it, according to documents.

She also told police that she planned to shoot her husband in the arm or leg and then shoot herself in the head, documents said.

John Sommerkamp provided a different version of events to police.

He said that he woke up after his wife turned on his bedroom light and threatened to shoot him, documents said. He said his wife was holding two guns, the Smith & Wesson in her right hand and a Taurus .38-caliber revolver in her left hand, as she stood about 3 feet from him, documents said.

Sheryl Sommerkamp then fired a round from the Smith & Wesson into the bed, John Sommerkamp told police. He said he grabbed his wife’s wrists to try to get the guns. A second round was fired as the couple struggled before John Sommerkamp eventually got both weapons, he told police.

John Sommerkamp said he then tried to calm his wife. She told him she wanted to shoot him and then herself, John Sommerkamp told police. Shortly after, he went downstairs and called police, documents said.

Sheryl Sommerkamp was charged Thursday with attempt to commit aggravated battery, attempt to commit battery by means of a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm, court records show.

No one was injured in the shooting. Police said John Sommerkamp sustained minor injuries during the struggle, but he didn’t require medical treatment.

Sheryl Sommerkamp remains in the Hamilton County Jail on a $45,000 bond.

Call Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter: @kristine_guerra.