A Florida woman has reported that she fatally shot her ex-husband in self-defense after he allegedly threatened her life and attempted to strangle her, asserting to the police, “it was me or him.” This information comes from local authorities.

Laura Hawks, aged 55, asserts that her former spouse, Jason Hawks, 48, attacked her with the intent to choke her. In response, she used a revolver she had discreetly taken from him the previous day to defend herself, according to a report by local ABC station WCJB, referencing details from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.

A juvenile, present at the house the ex-couple shared in Williston, discovered Jason Hawks deceased and contacted emergency services, as detailed in a police press release.

The release further explains, “During the investigation, detectives uncovered a long history of domestic violence between Laura and Jason. Laura disclosed to detectives that she had armed herself with Jason’s firearm a day earlier. She shot Jason multiple times as he entered their shared bedroom.”

As reported by WCJB, authorities stated that Laura Hawks recounted hiding her ex-husband’s revolver under a pillow, which she then used when he approached her. She allegedly shot him once in the abdomen and fired additional shots to “put him out of his misery,” according to the police.

Laura Hawks told cops she stayed by Jason Hawks’ side as he bled out over a span of several hours, even bringing him water and tea. She refused to get him medical attention, according to police.

“Evidence indicated Jason did not immediately succumb to his injuries and lay bleeding inside the residence for several hours,” the police press release says. “Laura made no effort to call for emergency service to render aid or report the shooting. She instead covered his remains with clothing to conceal him.”

After he died, Laura Hawks allegedly told cops she hid Jason Hawks’ body under a pile of clothes and made plans to bury him in the backyard before the juvenile found him.

“She intended to bury him in the backyard to avoid arrest,” the police press release says.

Laura Hawks was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, failure to report a death, and evidence tampering. She was booked into the Levy County Jail and is being held without bond.