Rices Landing woman faces charges after encouraging man to shoot himself
A Rices Landing woman is facing a felony charge after she allegedly told her fiance “Go ahead, do it!” before he pulled the trigger of a gun he held against his head.
Brandi Jane Stallard, 34, of 235 Third Street is charged with aiding suicide, which falls under the criminal homicide chapter of Pennsylvania law.
Stallard called 911 just after midnight Oct. 8, saying her fiance, Kent Armstrong, 58, shot himself in the head at their home. Cumberland Township Police arrived to find Stallard outside the house, crying, and Armstrong lying dead in a bedroom. A .22-caliber revolver was found on the bed, according to paperwork filed in the case.
A 4-year-old boy was sound asleep in his bedroom with the door closed.
Cumberland police officer Thomas Obarto removed the child from the scene.
Stallard told police she and Armstrong were arguing about her infidelity when he took a handgun from the drawer. She said she was laughing at him “because of how he was acting.”
“She said she was not afraid that he had a gun,” Obarto wrote in the affidavit of probable cause.
“Is this what you want?” Armstrong was quoted as saying, as he held the gun to his head. Stallard said she responded, “Go ahead, do it!”
“With those words, Armstrong pulled the trigger and shot himself in the head, killing himself,” court paperwork said.
Stallard gave police a recorded statement Oct. 16, reiterating her statement from Oct. 8, police said.
An autopsy indicated Armstrong died from a single gunshot wound fired at close range.
Stallard posted a picture on Facebook that night, showing Armstrong with a baby on his shoulders.
His obituary said he enjoyed riding motorcycles, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles. He collected antiques and enjoyed fishing. Armstrong was an avid Steelers fan. Comments on his obituary described him as an amazing father and a wonderful person.
The charge was filed Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Lee Watson. She was arraigned Thursday afternoon by Watson and released on a $30,000 unsecured bond.
She faces a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Oct. 31. An attorney is not listed for Stallard in court documents.