Police seek woman accused in shooting
GEORGES TWP. – State police are searching for a Smithfield woman accused of shooting her mother during an argument Sunday night. Trooper Timothy Kirsch said police secured a warrant for the arrest of Rachael Ann Rhome, 25, of Smithfield after she shot her mother, Angela Lynn Baker, 47, of Smithfield in the side during an argument at a residence at 51 Rose Drive in Strickland Estates Mobile Home Park.
According to Kirsch, the incident began around 9:45 p.m., when the two began arguing.
During the course of the disagreement, Kirsch said Rhome used a black automatic handgun and shot Baker in the left hip.
He said that Tina Strickland, who owns the mobile home park, arrived at the residence and tried to intervene, but added that Rhome told her to “mind her own business” and struck her in the face with the handgun.
Rhome then fled on foot, Kirsch said.
Baker was flown by medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., for treatment. An update on her condition was not available.
Strickland suffered a laceration to her left cheek as well as a contusion and swelling, Kirsch said.
Strickland said Monday that neither Baker nor Rhome reside at Strickland Estates and added that Rhome was forbidden from entering the mobile home park because of an eviction from Strickland Estates in the past.
“This is a good community,” Strickland said. “We have people who have been here for a very long time and we normally don’t have problems like this.”
Kirsch said charges filed against Rhome include criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. Anyone with information regarding Rhome’s whereabouts is asked to call police at 724-439-7111.