An Orlando man will go to trial this month for allegedly shooting and killing his girlfriend just hours after the couple hosted their son’s birthday party.
Richard Raciak is scheduled to stand trial on August 28 for a charge of second degree murder in the homicide of his girlfriend, 46-year-old Allison Marie Sheehan.
Raciak is accused of killing Sheehan at their home on Smithfield Drive on April 15. Earlier that day, Raciak and Sheehan threw a birthday party for their shared son. The couple began fighting after their guests left and later that evening, the fighting turned physical.
According to texts sent by Raciak to his brother and father, Sheehan had been attacking him when he “had to fire shots,” to “put her down.” In the aftermath of the shooting, Raciak claimed he shot Sheehan in self defense and said it was the “only choice” he had. He went on to send pictures of the murder scene to his brother and father, who contacted police to report the incident.
During an interview with police, Raciak said that while the couple was arguing, he felt threatened by Sheehan and retrieved a fire arm. He said he believed Sheehan was going to “claw his eyes out,” because she had become jealous and was upset with him.
While he was standing by a dresser in their bedroom, Raciak retrieved a gun from a locked gun box and placed it within reach. Raciak, who stands 6’1″ and weighs 191 pounds, says he the became “pissed,” but did not want to strike Sheehan with his hands. Instead, he decided to use his firearm in an effort to “put her down.”
Raciak told police that he tried to “shoot her in the leg” so that she would “chill,” but “aimed high” and shot her in the “butt” and shoulder instead. He admitted that he shot Sheehan as she was walking away from him and into the bathroom.
In July, Raciak and his attorney’s were denied a motion to set bond in the case. Since his arrest in April, Raciak has remained incarcerated at the Orange County Jail on zero bond, according to court records. A pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for August 16.