A D.C. woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of her husband early Thursday morning.
Diana Lalchan, 27, of Southwest, has been charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 36-year-old Christopher S. Lalchan.
The shooting occurred in the 1200 block of 4th Street SW shortly after midnight Thursday.
A 911 operator received a call from a woman saying, "I shot my husband," according to court documents.
Lalchan was pronounced dead at the scene. He suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head. An autopsy is pending.
According to D.C. court documents, the suspect and victim were married for four years and four registered guns were in the home. The defendant claimed that in the past she had been the victim of domestic abuse.
During questioning the defendant said her husband placed a .40-caliber on a television stand and told her he did it to make her feel safe. As Lalchan's husband walked away from the television stand, she picked up the firearm and fired three shots at him without provocation, according to court documents. Lalchan claims she was in fear of being attacked and shot her husband as he approached her, but she said he did not physically assault her or threaten physical harm that night.
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On her LinkedIn page, Lalchan identifies herself as a pharmacist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, according to the Associated Press. Walter Reed confirmed Diana Lalchan is an employee there. She provided bedside pharmaceutical counseling to wounded soldiers, News4's Jackie Bensen reported.
An investigation into the cause of the shooting is ongoing.
