Police: Couple's Injuries Result of Single Gunshot

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A Wilton couple injured by gunshots Monday morning are believed to have been shot by the same bullet following a struggle with a rifle, Wilton police announced Tuesday.

"At this point in the investigation, indications are such that the residents were involved in a struggle with a rifle during which time the weapon discharged," Captain John Lynch said.

Police said they weren't sure who ended up pulling the trigger.

“We can’t determine that yet,” Lynch said. "Right now it's just conisdered a domestic argument,” he said. “We are putting it together. We don't want to make any early determinations which might end up being false later."

At the time of the shooting, which occurred at the Grumman Avenue residence at which the two victims live, the two high school children of the 47-year-old male and 39-year-old female were at school, police said. After the gun was discharged, the female was able to make it to her neighbor's house, where she called 911. The female told police the shooting occurred in an upstairs bedroom at their house. 

"The male was struck by the fired round in the face causing life-threatening injuries," police said. "The female suffered facial injuries but [they] are not life-threatening."

Police said they're not at liberty to release names of the victims or whether they're still in the hospital.

"No one's been arrested, and they're both victims at this point," Lynch said. 

Wilton police are working with the State Attorney's office at state Superior Court in Stamford to investigate the incident. 

"If there are charges to be had, we'll have to work with them on that," Lynch said. "It's just too early now with the gathering of the evidence and trying to interpret it—sometimes that takes awhile."

Other than the two victims, there were no other witnesses to the incident, police said. Lynch said police have been able to speak with the female, but haven't been able to speak with the male so far.

The rifle was a hunting rifle, Lynch said, and police are looking into whether the gun is registered.

"We have begun a background check," he said.

The State Police Major Crime Scene Investigation Unit assisted the department with evidence collection yesterday.