An Oil City man is facing a homicide charge in the death of an Oil City woman. Venango County Coroner Christina Rugh identified the victim as 40-year-old April Michelle Dunkle.
Rugh said the victim died from a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner is homicide.
At about 9:30 Wednesday evening, Oil City police were dispatched to 601 Bissell Ave., where Mark Redfield, 61, fatally shot a woman inside the house during an argument, according to a criminal complaint filed by Oil City police.
The deceased woman was “located at the doorway” and no lifesaving measures were taken because it was “obvious” that she was dead, the complaint said.
Police immediately secured the gun from Redfield and detained him, the complaint said, noting at that time Redfield said she was “running” her mouth.
When police interviewed Redfield, he told them that he had known Dunkle for about 14 years and they had multiple verbal disputes leading up to Wednesday, the complaint said.
Redfield said he and the woman were having a dispute verbally and by text message and that she was “calling him names and then began calling other people,” the complaint said.
The argument continued and Redfield said Dunkle continued to call him names and told him he didn’t have the guts to shoot her or point the gun at her, the complaint said.
Redfield admitted that while the argument continued, he raised the gun off the table, pointed it at Dunkle with his finger on the trigger and the gun discharged, the complaint said. The complaint noted Redfield admitted that he acted “out of anger for her berating him.”
Upon discharging the gun, Redfiled said he was afraid and did not check on her; instead, he remained seated at the table and called 911, the complaint said.
Redfield has been charged with a felony count of criminal homicide.
He was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Matthew Kirtland and placed in Venango County jail with bail denied due to Redfield being a “flight risk” and “presumption great of defendant’s culpability,” according to the complaint.
Redfield’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 7 before Kirtland.
