Butler County man shot in chest during domestic dispute

A Butler County man was flown to an Ohio hospital after he was shot in the chest during a domestic dispute early Sunday, state police said.

The shooting happened at about 1:30 a.m. at a home in the 300 block of Hungarian Road in Cherry Township.

Troopers with the Butler barracks said they received a report of a domestic dispute at the home. They said the home was empty when they arrived, but there were several spent shell casings and blood throughout the residence.

Troopers spoke with a woman who told them James Powers, 45, struck her several times in the head and body and fired a handgun in the residence, according to a news release. Troopers said the woman had several visible injuries that required medical attention.

Powers lost control of the gun during a physical altercation, the woman said. The two struggled for the weapon, and Powers was shot in the chest.

Both Powers and the woman fled the scene. Powers left in a Dodge Ram truck and was found several hours later with gunshot wounds to the chest. The woman returned to the home a couple hours later.

Powers was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, according to the news release. Troopers didn’t provide information on his condition.

The shooting is under investigation.