A Mercer County grand jury returned a seven-count indictment on Wednesday charging a Hamilton man with the shooting death of his girlfriend as well as killing her dog, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
According to officials, Daniel Torres Jr., 39, of Hamilton, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, third-degree animal cruelty, fourth-degree prohibited weapons and devices, and two counts of second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm. He remains in the Mercer County Correction Center.
Onofri stated that at approximately 6:05 a.m. on Sunday, August 13, Hamilton police were dispatched to an apartment in the 800 block of South Olden Avenue after receiving a call from a man stating he shot his girlfriend.
Upon arrival, officers heard a gunshot come from the second floor apartment. They forced entry, encountered Torres in the apartment and detained him. As they searched the apartment further, officers discovered the victim, 31-year-old Jennifer Beer, on the floor of the bedroom suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Officials say Beer was pronounced dead at the scene. A deceased dog was also discovered in the bedroom in close proximity to Beer.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Hamilton Police Division. Assistant Prosecutor William P. Fisher presented the case to the grand jury.
Despite having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.