Indiana Man Accused of Killing Wife on Way to J.C. Penny’s Family Photo Shoot Claims Self-Defense
An Indiana man has been arrested after he allegedly shot his wife seven times in front of their two young children as they were on their way to a photo shoot at a JCPenney store, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Around 11:50 a.m. on Nov. 6, Mohammed Mondal reportedly called his neighbor, Dearborn County Sgt. Kenneth McAllister, and told him he “accidentally shot his wife” in the left arm in self-defense, according to the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office. Mondal reportedly sounded “panicked and upset,” as Front Page Detectives reported.
Mondal then drove his wife to the hospital, where authorities were already waiting for him. According to police, officers saw his wife, 40-year-old Stacy Mondal, “slumped” in the passenger seat with blood on her clothing and a handgun on the floorboard near her feet.
Stacy was pronounced dead shortly after, officials said.
Court documents show Mohammed and the victim’s two children, ages 14 months and 2 months, were in the vehicle at the time of the deadly shooting.
Deputies spoke with Mohammed outside the hospital, and reported he was “emotional” and asking about the condition of his wife. Mohammed allegedly told police he shot his wife in self-defense and “Stacy was going for his gun,” authorities said.
Police said Mohammed claimed he and his wife have had “marital problems over the last few years” and he believed his wife had an affair with at least two men in their neighborhood. Mohammed also believed that one of those men and his father-in-law had been following him.
Court records show Mohammed and his wife were arguing in the car when she allegedly hit him with her cell phone. The suspect allegedly told detectives that he went to grab his gun and shot his wife, police said. He then allegedly called 911 but hung up and called his sergeant neighbor, McAllister.
According to the probable cause statement, detectives told Mohammed that his wife had died in the hospital, and he “stated for the first time that Stacy pointed the gun at him before he shot her.”
On Nov. 7, detectives interviewed Mohammed again and he reportedly said, “I’m not the bad guy,” and insisted he allegedly shot his wife in self-defense, authorities said. However, officials said there was no evidence that the victim fired a handgun in the car.
An autopsy was completed and revealed the victim sustained seven gunshot wounds, with bullets hitting her in the heart, lungs and liver, authorities said.
On Nov. 8, Dearborn County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens charged Mohammed Mondal with murder, two counts of neglect of a dependent, and a felony firearm sentencing enhancement in connection with the death of his wife.
Mohammed was arrested and remains in custody.
