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July 5, 2007

Coventry police ID man accused of shooting wife

COVENTRY – The Connecticut State Police have in custody a Coventry man who allegedly shot his wife in the shoulder during a Fourth of July domestic dispute.

Michael T. Burke, 47, is being held at the Department of Corrections pending an arraignment this morning, according to Coventry Police Capt. James Rickard. His wife, Deborah Burke, 45, was taken yesterday to Rhode Island Hospital to be treated with non-life threatening injuries.

Burke is now being held on fugitive charges. He is expected to be extradited later today, when he will be charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling, Rickard said.

-- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks

Burke was arrested yesterday morning by Connecticut authorities shortly after he crashed his vehicle into a tree in Sterling, Conn.

He had been traveling north on Route 49 when his vehicle veered off the road. The car burst into flames upon impact with the tree; Burke sustained serious injuries to his head and back. He was first taken to a hospital in Norwich for treatment before he was moved to the correction facility.

The police allege that Burke shot his wife sometime around 9 a.m. at the couple’s home at 437 Town Farm Rd. Another adult, Tara Burke, 22, was in the house at the time.

The police are not releasing information on what type of weapon they believe was used, nor have they given any reason for the dispute.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:02 PM | Permalink

July 5, 2007

Coventry police ID man accused of shooting wife

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