A woman from Willow Springs has been charged with several felonies after allegedly shooting her boyfriend on Wednesday.
Meredith Helms faces first-degree domestic assault, serious physical injury, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon charges.
According to the probable cause statement, Willow Springs police officers responded to a report of a non-life threatening gunshot victim at 1:55 am.
Officers discovered that Helms had shot her boyfriend in the arm at close range.
The boyfriend was taken to the hospital for treatment and Helms was taken into custody and questioned.
Helms’ statement to WSPD officers claims that she and the victim had been arguing all day, and that her boyfriend kept saying that he wanted to break up.
Helms said that around 10:30 pm, the boyfriend began accusing her of cheating, calling her names, belittling and throwing things at her.
When told to leave the room, the boyfriend refused, which is when Helms grabbed his shotgun and fired it into the wall.
The victim was struck by some pellets from the shot, according to Helms’ statement, but that she didn’t intentionally try to shoot him.
Helms also claimed that the relationship had been abusive, saying that her boyfriend had struck her in the face the week before the incident.
Helms’ arraignment was scheduled for earlier yesterday, and if convicted, she faces up to life in prison.