A 26-year-old Illinois woman who fired warning shots at the gunman who killed her fiance is facing felony firearm charges. Ashley Harrison of Aurora, Illinois is charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Prosecutors say she was driving along the 200 block of West Root Street with her fiance, 27-year-old Garvin Whitmore around 5:20 p.m. Saturday when someone walked up and shot him in the head. Harrison then pulled out a .357-caliber Magnum handgun that was in the car and fired several gunshots in the air, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Surveillance cameras from a nearby business caught Harrison on camera shooting into the air. Four years ago, Harrison and Whitmore moved to Aurora in hopes of escaping the violence in Chicago. They have two children together.
In 2012, Melissa Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot over the head of her abusive estranged husband. The state’s attorney sought to put her behind bars for 60 years. She attempted to defend herself using the state of Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which grants citizens the right to defend themselves if they feel they are in danger. George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin under the defense.
Alexander was released in 2015 after she pleaded guilty to assault in exchange for credit for time served. Illinois has a similar law. It remains unclear whether Harrison will use it in her defense. Harrison’s bond is set at $250,000.
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