Iowa Woman Charged with Murder in Husband’s Shooting Over Alleged Threat to Dog

A 66-year-old woman in Iowa has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fatal shooting of her 72-year-old husband, allegedly sparked by a dispute involving the couple’s dog.

Kimberly Ann Charlton was taken into custody on Wednesday after police responded to a domestic disturbance call at the couple’s home in the 4300 block of Newland Drive in Cedar Falls.

According to the Cedar Falls Department of Public Safety, officers arrived at approximately 6:32 p.m. to find David Alan Charlton suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities allege that Kimberly Charlton shot her husband in the back after he threatened to strike their dog with a cane. She remained at the scene and was arrested without incident.

The Cedar Falls Police Department was assisted in the response and investigation by Black Hawk County Dispatch, MercyOne Paramedics, and the Cedar Falls Fire Division.

According to a criminal complaint, Kimberly Charlton told investigators that an altercation occurred in the couple’s bedroom earlier that evening, during which her husband allegedly attempted to assault her. She claimed the situation was defused when their dog intervened.

She further stated that David Charlton left the room and later returned with a walking cane and threatened to harm the dog.

As he followed the animal down the hallway, Kimberly Charlton allegedly retrieved a firearm from a bedroom dresser, confronted him, and warned, “I’m going to shoot you if you don’t stop.” When he continued walking, she allegedly fired a single shot, striking him in the center of the back.

Neighbors expressed shock over the incident, describing the couple as generally quiet and unremarkable in the community.

“They mostly kept to themselves, but we never saw or heard anything that would suggest there were serious problems between them. It’s very hard to believe something like this could happen just a few houses down.”

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One resident noted the wife’s strong attachment to the couple’s dog: “She treated that dog like family.”

Kimberly Charlton is currently being held at the Black Hawk County Jail on a $1 million bond.