Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 50-year-old man is recovering at Providence St. Peter Hospital after he was shot in the back, allegedly by his wife, at their Rochester home last night.
Deputies called about 11:15 p.m. to the 19000 block of Melon Street arrested the 57-year-old woman, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
They had been arguing and fighting since before they left the Lucky Eagle Casino to go home, according to detective Sgt. Ray Brady.
“Just a bad incident,” Brady said. “Unfortunately, domestic violence incidents are all too common.”
Brady said their investigation found after the couple returned home, he removed himself by going out to the garage. Deputies learned she went to the house grabbed a .38 caliber pistol and returned to the garage, where her husband had just left.
“She fired a shot through the closed side door and struck him in the lower back,” he said.
Cynthia L. Fetterly was arrested and booked into the Thurston County Jail for first-degree assault.
The husband as of last night was serious but stable and undergoing surgery, Brady said.
She told deputies she didn’t recall why they were arguing; he said it had to do with becoming separated while at the casino and not being able to find each other, Brady said.
The wife indicated she didn’t intend to shoot her husband, he said.
“She just wanted to scare him, didn’t want him to come back in the house,” Brady said.
The sheriff’s office said the wife appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.