ROUGEMONT, N.C. (WNCN) – An Orange County man told 911 he thought a gun was unloaded when he shot his girlfriend in the face, according to a recording released by authorities.
Anthony Wheeler was arrested just after midnight Wednesday after deputies found him walking away from the scene near Rougemont, the sheriff’s office said.
Wheeler was talking with authorities on the phone when deputies approached him.
On Thursday, the recording of Wheeler talking to the 911 dispatcher was released.
“I shot my girlfriend,” the caller said.
He goes on to say the woman is still alive but needs help.
“She was pushing my buttons and I unloaded the gun,” the caller said.
The caller said he unloaded a .357 but “It went off.”
The 911 caller said he told the his girlfriend, “You keep doing this to me and my kids. Why do you keep doing this?”
The victim was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the face at the home she shared with Wheeler on Guess Road.
The weapon used in the shooting was recovered by deputies.
The victim was transported to the hospital and her current condition has not been released.
Wheeler was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
He’s being held at the Orange County Detention Center without bond.
Wheeler is expected to appear before a judge Wednesday afternoon.
