LAPLACE — A LaPlace man was arrested Tuesday, charged with killing his wife.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said Richard Starks Jr. is charged with second degree murder following the shooting death of his wife.

Deputies began investigating in the 100 block of Oak Arbor Street in LaPlace following a shooting report at approximately 2:10 a.m.

A 911 caller identified as Starks, 55, told deputies he had “accidentally shot” his wife, Carreta Davis Starks, 47, following a “domestic issue,” Tregre said.

“Deputies were approached by Richard Starks Jr., who exited the residence with arms up, surrendering to police,” Tregre said.

“Deputies detained him without incident. Deputies then entered the residence and found the female victim seated on the living room floor with a gunshot wound to the head.”

Emergency services attempted to render medical aid, but the victim was unresponsive and pronounced dead on the scene by the coroner’s office.

During the course of the investigation, detectives found a semi-automatic firearm with a single magazine separated from the firearm on the floor near the body, Tregre said.

St. John the Baptist  Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Angel Thompson said no one was home besides the couple at the time of the shooting, adding authorities had not been called to the location previously for domestic concerns.

Thompson said .45 caliber Glock was fired one time.

They investigation has led detectives to believe Carreta Davis Starks may have been seeking a divorce, Thompson said.