Rehoboth Woman Who Fired Shotgun at Her Spouse Sentenced to Prison

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office 

Thomas M. Quinn III 

District Attorney

Press Release

January 9, 2017

A 54-year-old Rehoboth woman who fired a shotgun at her spouse and her spouse’s friend this past April in Rehoboth was sentenced to serve four to five years in state prison last Friday.

Deborah Armstrong pleaded guilty Friday in Fall River Superior Court to two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

On April 14, 2016, the defendant’s estranged spouse had made plans with the defendant for the defendant to leave their home so that the victim and her friend could removes the victim’s belongings from the home. When the victim and her friend arrived at the home, they saw the defendant get into her vehicle and drive away.

The victim and her friend then entered the home and began to pack up and remove the victim’s belongings. While the two women were outside the home placing boxes in the victim’s vehicle, the defendant unexpectedly emerged from the garage and fired a shotgun at them. The shot missed both women, but struck the victim’s vehicle’s rear passenger window. The victim then noticed the defendant eject the spent shotgun round from the firearm and begin to re-load. Both victims immediately ran from the property, and called police once they were a safe distance away.

Rehoboth Police arrested the defendant inside the home without incident.

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Shelby Smith argued for a five to seven year state prison sentence, to be followed by 10 years of supervised probation. The defendant, however, requested a two to three year state prison sentence.

After hearing from both sides, Judge Raffi Yessayan sentenced the defendant to serve four to five year in state prison and place her on probation for 10 years. As part of the terms of probation, Judge Yessayan ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victims, undergo random drug and alcohol screenings, be fitted with a GPS bracelet and undergo mental health counseling.

Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576—cell