Woman Accidentally Shoots, Kills Friend Who Was Trying To Surprise Her: Prosecutor

A Burlington County man was accidentally shot and killed by a friend he was trying to surprise in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, late Thursday night.

A woman called the Hamilton Township Police Department at about 11:23 p.m. to tell them she accidentally shot her friend, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday morning.

Upon arrival, officers found 50-year-old Kelvin Watford, of Willingboro, lying at the bottom of stairs with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman told police she was on the phone with Watford, who said he was returning from a trip and was not in the immediate area. It is believed he was trying to surprise her.

As the conversation continued, the woman told police she heard a dog barking and noises outside of her house. As the noises continued, she retrieved her gun.

She heard someone inside her house and walked to her bedroom door, still on the phone.

She opened the door, saw a shadow moving on the stairs, and fired her gun once.

No charges have been filed at this time, and the incident remains under investigation.

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