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The woman was shot by her husband, Howard "Philip" Boltz, as she was sitting at their dinner at their dining room table at 9:10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, as detailed in the affidavit of probable cause.
Boltz, 82, told his wife, "I can't stand it no more. You are cutting me down," as he placed a .22 caliber rifle's barrel against her head, according to the document. The rifle was still covered with a cloth Boltz used to protect it while it was stored in the basement of their Airport Road home.
The woman told police she felt the cold steel of the barrel on her head, then heard a loud explosion, immediately followed by intense plain, the criminal complaint says. She began bleeding profusely from the wound.
Boltz then refused to give his wife aid until she demanded that he call 911, according to the document.
He then called police and reported that he had just shot his wife, according to the Berks County District Attorney's Office.
His wife was taken to Penn State Hershey Medical Center in stable condition, the district attorney's office said.
Boltz was arrested and charged with:
- Felony Criminal Attempt - Homicide.
- Felony Aggravated Assault - Attempts to Cause Serious Bodily Injury or Causes Injury with Extreme Indifference.
- Felony Aggravated Assault - Attempts to Cause Bodily Injury with Deadly Weapon.
- Misdemeanor Possession of Weapon.
- Misdemeanor Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 16, according to court documents. He's being held in Berks County Prison on $1 million bail.
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