Hamilton man indicted for shooting death of his girlfriend and her dog
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 said in a press release Friday.
Daniel Torres Jr., age 39, of South Olden Avenue, 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 seconddegree 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. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A deceased dog was also discovered in the bedroom in close proximity to Beer.
Beer was the mother of two young daughtersturned-orphans,
according to Beer’s acquaintances on social media, who said the children’s father died two years ago.
Multiple social media posts from friends of Beer allege that she had an abusive history with Torres, including statements about trying to get her out of the apartment that she shared with Torres.
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.
Domestic violence victims can get help without saying a word online at www.thehotline.org or by calling 1-800799-SAFE (7233).