A Washington state man is accused of fatally shooting his wife of just over a year in front of her two young sons. Josiah Ballinger, 42, faces second-degree murder charges in the death of Rachael Ballinger, 41. The shooting occurred late Sunday afternoon in Spokane.
According to Spokane police, the couple argued in the basement of their home on North Hawthorne Street. Their 9-year-old son witnessed the dispute turn physical before Josiah Ballinger drew a black handgun and fired. Rachael Ballinger had reportedly told him he would go to jail for life if he shot her. The 14-year-old son called 911 after hearing the gunshot and seeing his stepfather flee in a silver Jeep. Officers later stopped the vehicle nearby and arrested Ballinger without incident, recovering a handgun from the car. Paramedics pronounced Rachael Ballinger dead at the scene. Ballinger appeared in court Monday and is being held in the Spokane County Jail on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to enter a plea on Thursday.