Police say a Northampton County woman declared “I’m not playing with y’all” before shooting two people Saturday, killing a 27-year-old woman and critically injuring a 45-year-old man.
Lacole Diane Dotson, 27, is charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide and other charges stemming from the early morning shooting on Market Street in Freemansburg.
According to court records, Dotson and the victims, Alphonso Steed and Atirah Steed, resided together at the home. Atirah Steed is Alphonso Steed’s daughter. Dotson and Alphonso Steed have a one-year-old child together.
Children and another man were in the home at the time of the shooting but were not injured.
The shooting occurred around 7 a.m. Police say there was an argument among the residents Friday night, and Dotson came down the stairs Saturday morning with a handgun in her pants pocket. She made comments about not liking what was said the prior evening and brandished the weapon, according to court records.
Atirah Steed told Dotson that “if she was going to pull it out, she might as well use it,” court records say.
Witnesses said Dotson then began firing the gun “everywhere.” Atirah Steed was shot in the back and collapsed, court records say.
Alphonso Steed, who had left for work but returned, walked in the door at that time, court records say, and Dotson shot him as well. He fell onto the front porch.
A witness who was running out of the home during the shooting heard Dotson “calling the cops on herself,” according to court records.
Police arrived and arrested Dotson without further incident. Court records say she admitted shooting the victims with a gun she had purchased in April, saying she felt threatened, but conceded that the victims did not have weapons and no physical fight had taken place.
Police recovered 11 bullet casings from the scene. Alphonso Steed sustained three bullet wounds and remains hospitalized.
Dotson is being held without bail in the county jail. Pennsylvania State Police and Freemansburg Borough Police are investigating the shooting.