It was the worst start ever for International Women’s Day. As women across the U.S. bonded together to march in solidarity for A Day Without Women, one Riviera Beach man took it literally by shooting his wife dead.
The dead woman has been identified by Rivera Beach Police as 31-year-old Ashley Balius. Her husband, Dwight Luton, 32, is now behind bars facing a charge of murder.
The incident occurred at Canterbury Drive North around 6:00 Pm, Teusday.
According to police, Luton, 32, shot Balius, 31, once in the head. Balius was found seated in the driver’s seat of a Chevy sport-utility vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the couple’s home.
The cops said Luton was standing beside the vehicle, appearing to provide aid to his injured wife.
Balius was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center and pronounced dead several hours later.
Luton told police his wife accidentally shot herself while attempting to remove a gun from her purse.
He was questioned and later charged with first-degree murder with a firearm and tampering or destroying evidence. Luton is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Police said they are still investigating what led to the domestic murder.
A first court appearance for Luton is scheduled for Thursday.
