According to Coventry police, who investigated, the alleged incident took place shortly after 9 a.m. at the couple’s home at 437 Town Farm Rd. early Fourth of July morning. Burke allegedly had an altercation with his wife, Deborah, shot her in the shoulder and then took off in his car, heading north toward Connecticut. The couple’s daughter, Tara, 22, was home when the shooting occurred.

Burke veered off the road while traveling on Route 49 and crashed into a tree in Sterling, Conn. He was picked up by Connecticut State Police, who arrested him on a fugitive charge. Burke suffered serious injuries to head, back and chest and was taken by ambulance to William W. Backus Hospital, in Norwich, Conn. On July 19, Burke was extradited and brought back to Rhode Island and charged with assault with a deadly weapon in a dwelling.