by San Diego Man Accused of Throwing Girlfriend Off Third-FStory Balcony After Heated Argument
Residents of an apartment complex in San Diego, California, were left shocked and traumatized after a man allegedly threw his girlfriend off a third-floor balcony during a heated dispute.
According to police, 61-year-old Irene Williams suffered severe head injuries and a broken femur. She was rushed to the hospital by paramedics but later died from her injuries. Her boyfriend, 57-year-old Albert Turner, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, the San Diego Police Department said in a statement.
The incident happened around 7:21 p.m. Monday at an apartment building in the 500 block of West San Ysidro Boulevard. Witnesses quickly called 911, reporting that they had seen a man throw a woman from the balcony.
Investigators later discovered that Williams and Turner had been arguing, and at some point, Williams threw some of Turner’s belongings over the balcony outside their apartment. Moments later, witnesses say, Turner grabbed her and threw her off the third-floor landing.
Neighbor Charles Riddle witnessed the horrifying moment and spoke to NBC 7 San Diego.
“I’m truly traumatized by what I saw,” Riddle said. He recalled that as he was heading to his car, he overheard the couple arguing.
“Before I could get to my car, I heard a commotion, turned around, and saw him grab her from behind and toss her over the balcony,” he said. “She flipped through the air and landed headfirst on the ground.”
Police said Turner stayed at the scene and was taken into custody without incident.
Another neighbor, who often saw Williams around the complex, noted the stark difference in size between the couple.
“She was a small, frail older woman,” the neighbor said. “He was big — muscular and strong.”
The neighbor also mentioned that Turner had only moved in with Williams a few weeks prior to the incident.
Turner is currently being held at the San Diego County Jail without bail. His court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
