OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Court documents filed in a domestic violence case in Ottawa County detail the argument that led to a man shooting his girlfriend in front of their kids while their teenage son intervened.
Vaughn Smith was arraigned Wednesday in 58th District Court on two counts of assault with intent to murder, three counts of felony firearms and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
His bond was set at $5,000,000 and he remains in the Ottawa County Jail.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said the altercation between the couple happened around 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 23 near Allendale in Robinson Township.
Law enforcement interviewed all of the children home at the time, the woman who was shot, and the 16-year-old boy who stabbed his dad.
Detectives explained through a probable cause affidavit that a neighboring couple witnessed the domestic violence incident. Both neighbors said they saw Smith shoot his handgun at the woman twice, and they saw the 16-year-old son jump on Smith's back after the first shot.
The neighbor said Smith was about two feet away from the woman when he fired the first shot. The other neighbor called 911.
The woman, 34, was shot in the leg and the head. She is now home from the hospital and is expected to recover.
A detective interviewed her at the hospital, while Smith chose to remain silent.
The victim told the detective that she and Smith have been in a long-term relationship and that they have multiple children together.
She said overnight from May 22 to May 23, the pair were arguing about various things. She told the detective at one point she revealed to her boyfriend that one of their children was not his.
She told authorities this upset Smith, and he told her "he was going to blow her brains out."
That's when he pulled out a gun, and she recognized the pistol she had bought.
They were arguing outside, and he pointed the gun at her and fired a shot, hitting her in the leg, she told detectives. She said she tried to run away, and she felt something hit her head.
The woman told authorities while she was lying on the ground, Smith left and then came back holding a bloody neck.
He said to her, "B****, you ain't dead," and continued to rant that "your son is trying to kill me," mentioning the teen son's name.
The 16-year-old boy was taken into custody that night and was cooperative with detectives.
During an interview, he told detectives Smith threw a glass of water in his mother's face, and Smith said he hoped both the woman and the child that wasn't his, die in a car crash.
The boy told authorities at that point, the woman drove all five kids to a hospital saying they weren't safe with Smith.
They got some sleep in a parking lot and headed back home.
When the family returned back to the house, that's when the violence began, the boy told detectives.
The teenager said when he saw his dad pull out a gun, he went to the kitchen and grabbed two knives. When he saw his mom get shot the first time, the 16-year-old ran back outside to intervene.
The boy told detectives he jumped on Smith's back because the man was standing over the woman with the gun pointed down at her.
Their teen son jumped on Smith's back just as he was pulling the trigger a second time, authorities said, likely preventing a more serious injury. He said he stabbed the man in the neck as he was firing the gun, the teenager said.
The boy told investigators his dad then pointed the gun at his head as the boy was on his back.
He fell off onto the ground, and Smith fired a shot at him then, the teen said.
The teenager wasn't hit, and he told authorities he ran to the neighbor's house.
Investigators say there were five children in the home at the time of the incident. None of them were hurt.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said Smith was treated for his stab wounds and has since been released from the hospital. He's expected to recover.
The other four children corroborated their mother and brother's account of the attack, court documents detail.
Investigators said they found two spent .45 caliber casings in the front yard of the home. They also found a live round on the ground in the same area.
The weapon authorities believe was used in the shooting also had one .45 caliber casing still in the gun. Detectives believe the gun jammed, keeping the round inside.
This isn't the first time law enforcement has been called to the home for a domestic violence disturbance.
Detectives were called to the home in November 2023 for a domestic violence call between Smith and the victim.
Smith has two previous convictions, including felony larceny of a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident happened near Ottawa Area Center School, which is part of the Ottawa ISD. The school was placed on lockdown out of caution that day.
Deputies say the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office has specialists trained to interview children who witnessed traumatic events. Those specialists were called to the home to speak with the children.
The children have since been reunited with family.
If you or someone you know is in an unsafe relationship and need help, know there are resources available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 800-799-7233. You can also text START to 88788.
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