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*** WARNING: The following news report contains details that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. ***
Shortly after 3:15 a.m. on June 30, deputies were called to the 10400 block of Spotswood Drive to investigate a reported domestic disturbance involving a weapon.
According to prosecutors, on the morning of the shooting, a 911 call was made by a minor who stated repeatedly "my mom said that my dad's drunk and he has pointed a gun and threatened that she is dead ... but he hasn't shot her yet, but he is about to. I don't know what is going on."
The call lasted approximately 22 minutes before the minor and a friend were able to leave the home.
Upon arrival, officials say that deputies went to the side of the home where the basement window was open, where they found a man, identified by investigators as Kenneth Carr, armed with a gun and pointing it at a woman.
"Carr briefly left the room after the doorbell chimed and then returned," the investigation determined. "When (he) returned, he raised the gun to eye level and was in a shooting stance.
"It was clear to Lt. (Daniel) Harris that Carr's demeanor had changed ... (His wife) began cowering further and was now actively pleading for her life.
"As Carr approached (his wife) and into Harris' line of sight, he fired his service rifle once. The bullet struck Carr in the side of the head and he dropped."
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Spotsylvania Fire and EMS personnel. The woman was ultimately unharmed.
Following the fatal shooting, prosecutors say that Carr's wife stated that she and her husband had been out to dinner and he became agitated, setting off the deadly chain of events.
According to the investigation, the pair returned home, Carr left the residence and returned later that night purportedly under the influence, at which point he got physical with his wife.
"(He) was still angry about their discussions earlier in the evening and began yelling at (his wife), became physical with (her), and stated 'she was going to learn today,'" the report states.
Prosecutors determined that as he became more physical, his wife threatened to call the police or his Command, to which he reportedly responded by saying "(she) didn't have to worry about calling the police because he was going to kill her."
He then fetched his gun and the woman ran to the basement in an attempt to hide, not wanting to leave the children behind.
Investigators say that Carr then dragged his wife through the basement, at which point she stated "he was not the same person and could not see her husband in his eyes."
After pleading for her life, "she put her hands down and tried to look in his eyes, but 'he was so far gone,'" she added.
As he was about to pull the trigger, a shot was heard and Carr dropped to the ground after being struck by the lieutenant.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the sheriff's office announced that the 18-year veteran's use of lethal force was justified.
"While no civilized society condones the killing of another human being, there are times when the killing of another is excused," Fauquier County Commonwealth's Attorney Scott Hook concluded. "One of those exceptions is when deadly force is required to protect the life of another person.
"In the immediate incident, I find the shooting was justified based on the totality of the circumstances. Lt. Harris was presented with an armed man who was aiming his pistol at a potential victim and the armed man had broadcasted that he was about to kill (her).
"Harris' actions were reasonable, and no lesser action would have prevented the death of an innocent person."
Daily Voice sends condolences to the Carr family.
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