By Associated Press - Tuesday, May 29, 2018

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Prosecutors have dropped charges against a northwestern Pennsylvania man whose lawyer says he acted in self-defense in an exchange of gunfire last year with his wife, who later died.

The Erie Times-News reports that 74-year-old Joe Bush was charged with aggravated assault following the January 2017 gunfire in Erie.

Sixty-one-year-old Ida Bush was also charged but died in April 2017. Her death was eventually ruled a homicide but no homicide charge was filed in the case.

Erie County prosecutors dropped charges against the husband in February and say there are no plans to refile them.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Erin Connelly said in her dismissal motion that the circumstances would have made proving the charges difficult. Joe Bush’s lawyer said his client defended himself after his wife fired at him.

___

Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide