On Tuesday afternoon, Avondale police found themselves in a standoff with a man now suspected of causing his wife’s death. The individual in question is Jose Chagnon, 53 years old.
Police were alerted to the situation around 2 p.m. when neighbors reported hearing gunshots near Avondale Boulevard and Buckeye Road. Court records reveal that several witnesses saw a man, allegedly armed, pursuing a woman.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a gravely injured woman near a neighbor’s front door. Despite efforts to save her, she passed away at the hospital due to a gunshot wound to the head. The woman, whose name is yet to be disclosed, was 29 years old.
Meanwhile, Chagnon was found by police at the entrance of a nearby house. Upon ordering him to step outside, he chose to shut the door, expressing a preference for ending his own life.
Negotiations were initiated with Chagnon, who had barricaded himself inside the house. As reported, he confessed to causing his wife’s death and eventually surrendered 40 minutes later. He revealed to the police that a disagreement with his wife had escalated earlier in the day, resulting in physical assault and a gunshot meant to intimidate her.
During this confrontation, Chagnon was reportedly on a video call with his ex-girlfriend, who later confirmed witnessing him pointing the gun at his wife.
The suspect expressed a lapse in memory, uncertain of how they ended up outside, attributing this to his heightened emotional state. He confessed that if his wife was indeed shot and killed, it was likely his doing. Before surrendering, he consumed methamphetamine and considered suicide.
Chagnon now faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, endangerment, and two counts of aggravated assault. It’s noteworthy that the victim had previously sought legal protection against him.
A search at the residence uncovered a .40 caliber handgun in the kitchen and one shell casing in the master bedroom, with another seven found outside. Surveillance footage showed Chagnon firing at his wife as she attempted to escape. Multiple nearby houses were hit by the gunfire, but fortunately, no other injuries were reported.
The motive for this tragic event remains unclear.