CASSOPOLIS (WKZO AM/FM) — 56-year-old James Lampson of Cass County has been charged with ten criminal counts after allegedly shooting his estranged wife in an aborted attempt at murder/suicide, and then winding up at a Steak and Shake in northern Indiana.
In Court, Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Jennifer Lampson came to the suspect’s house to talk about divorce and he pulled out a gun, announcing he planned to kill her and then kill himself.
After shooting her in the chest, Fitz claims he apparently changed his mind and claims after she offered to protect him if he took her to the hospital, began setting up an alibi that they had been struggling over the gun when it went off. Fitz claims that Lampson forced her to grab the gun so her prints would be on it.
Fitz said he was doing all this while she was still bleeding, in need of an ambulance and responsible for notifying authorities.
Because Lampson had been charged with domestic abuse in 2016 for allegedly breaking her wrist and didn’t want to take her to the same hospital, they claim he ended up at the Steak and Shake looking for another hospital.
Mrs. Lampson is expected to survive. Mr. Lampson is being held without bond.
Among the charges he faces are assault with intent to murder, unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence, obstruction of justice and multiple gun felonies.
