Florida Man Arrested After Claiming Self-Defense In Fatal Shooting Of Girlfriend, Told Police He Wanted To 'Put Her Down': Cops

A Florida man is claiming self-defense after he was arrested when his girlfriend was discovered fatally shot in the back, according to authorities.

Around 12:40 a.m. on April 16, deputies responded to a residence in Orlando. Once at the scene, officers found 46-year-old Allison Sheehan, who was shot and injured, WKMG reported.

Sheehan was transported to the hospital where she later died, officials said, and Richard Raciak, 48, was arrested.

Court documents show Sheehan was found in the master bedroom of the home with multiple gunshot wounds, according to WKMG.

Raciak’s father talked with police and said he received a text message from his son, saying, “Allison was attacking me I had to fire shots,” authorities said. In other texts from Raciak, he said he was shooting in “self-defense” and he sent a photo of the victim’s body.

The suspect complained of dehydration, so he was taken to the hospital, which is where he was interviewed.

Raciak said he and Sheehan were together for eight years and had thrown a birthday party for their child on April 15. He claims Sheehan consumed alcohol at the party and was arguing with him later that night, court documents state.

The suspect claims his girlfriend “came at” him and she was going to “claw his eyes out.” Sheehan reportedly pushed him into a dresser and that is when he grabbed a gun, saying he wanted to “put her down” and he tried to shoot her in the leg so she would “chill,” WKMG reported.

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Raciak told police he shot Sheehan four times and admitted to shooting her while she was turned away from him, according to authorities.

Raciak has been charged with first-degree murder, as officials said the investigation is ongoing.