A Maryland woman has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting her husband during a heated argument sparked by suspected infidelity, according to police and court documents. Nicole Ward, 50, of Bowie, was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree murder after reportedly fatally shooting her husband, Damian Ward, 53, with a .357 S&B Magnum revolver.
The incident occurred in the early hours of July 19 at the couple’s home in the 13200 block of Old Chapel Road, about 30 miles southwest of Baltimore. The Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) confirmed the arrest in a press release issued Monday. Officers responded to a call at the residence around 1:45 a.m., where they discovered Damian Ward inside the home suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect shot the victim during an argument,” PGPD officials stated. According to charging documents obtained by WTTG, a local Fox affiliate, the fatal dispute began after Nicole Ward allegedly discovered photos and messages on a second phone belonging to her husband. The content, she told police, indicated Damian Ward “was having an extramarital affair with another woman.”
After confronting her husband with the evidence, Nicole reportedly told him to “pack his bags and leave the house.” An argument escalated between the two, ending with Nicole allegedly firing a single shot at her husband with the revolver. Court documents did not specify whether Damian Ward responded to the accusations of infidelity before the shooting.
Further details about the nature of the messages or the identity of the other woman have not been released. Nicole Ward is currently being held without bond at the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections. Online court records confirm that she is facing multiple charges, including first- and second-degree murder and related firearms offenses.
The case has shocked the quiet suburban community of Bowie, where neighbors expressed disbelief over the violent end to a seemingly ordinary household. As of now, Nicole Ward has not entered a plea, and no attorney of record has made a public statement on her behalf.
Her next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full sequence of events that led to the fatal confrontation.