Husband Charged After Sleeping Wife Shot in the Face

A Bradenton man is being held in the Manatee County Jail with no bond, after police say he shot his wife in the face Friday night as she slept.

Steven Pinel faces an attempted murder charge, as well as charges of domestic battery by strangulation and attempted car jacking.

Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski told the Bradenton Herald that the suspect's gun malfunctioned, preventing the suspect from firing additional rounds.

Pinel's wife ran to the home of a neighbor, who phoned police.

Said Radzilowski: “All we are saying is that he had a problem with the gun and she was able to flee.”

The shooting took place in the 4800 block of 51st Street West.

The victim, whose name was not released, is hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Pinel was arrested after crashing his vehicle off State Road 70 and I-75.

Pinel also faces a charge of attempted car jacking after he pulled on a gun on a motorist who stopped to offer help when his vehicle crashed. He was arrested by police while walking through a subdivision.

For the full story in the Bradenton Herald, see Gun malfunction may have saved Manatee woman shot Friday.