SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (TCN) — A 40-year-old man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse after he allegedly shot his girlfriend and then ran her over with his car while his daughter was inside the vehicle with him.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a bar on Oct. 13 at approximately 9 p.m. after receiving reports of a shooting. Detectives learned that at about 8:45 p.m., Christopher “Dodge” Smith went into the bar and left his dog and his 5-year-old daughter in the car. He then reportedly came outside with his girlfriend, Jessica Antolini, 30. The two got into an argument, and Smith allegedly shot Antolini before getting into his car to flee. He allegedly ran Antolini over in the process.
Witnesses described Smith’s car to deputies, and he was apprehended a short time later. Body-worn camera footage released by the sheriff’s department shows Smith allegedly telling deputies, “My daughter’s in there!”
The child and the dog were unharmed inside the car and were given over to family members, according to the sheriff’s office. Antolini was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
Smith was booked into jail and charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse, according to the sheriff’s office. Law & Crime reports that a judge denied Smith bond on the attempted murder charge and ordered him not to have contact with his daughter.
The investigation is ongoing.
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