Orlando man claims self-defense after shooting girlfriend in back four times on son's birthday
A 48-year-old Orlando man admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend while she had her back turned during an argument just hours after the couple threw a birthday for their son.
www.orlando-news.com
Richard Raciak is accused of killing his girlfriend of eight years, Alison Sheehan
Home Crime
By Staff Report
APRIL 17, 2023
A 48-year-old Orlando man admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend while she had her back turned during an argument just hours after the couple threw a birthday for their son.
On Sunday, April 16, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 2844 Smithfield Drive after receiving a call around 12:39 a.m. from a father who claimed that his son, Richard Raciak, had shot and killed his girlfriend, 46-year-old Allison Marie Sheehan.
Upon arrival, police found Sheehan with multiple gunshot wounds in the master bedroom of the residence. Sheehan was transported to Osceola Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
Raciak was secured and transported to Hunter’s Creek Emergency Room after complaining of dehydration, according to an arrest affidavit filed by OSCO.
During their investigation, authorities interviewed Raciak’s father, who told police that he had been at the couple’s home earlier on Saturday, April 15 attending a birthday party for the couple’s shared son. The father left the party at around 3:30 p.m. and at approximately 10:25 p.m., he and his other son began receiving text messages from Raciak.
In the texts, Raciak asked his brother and father to remove money from his safe and “take over.” In another text, Raciak stated that “Allison was attacking” him and that he “had to fire shots.” His brother and father asked what was happening, and Raciak texted “I had to put her down Self defense Only choice I had. Waiting on cops.”
About 30 minutes after the first text, Raciak sent a picture message to the group chat of Sheehan lying face down in a pool of her own blood. There appeared to be two wounds to the lower right side of her back. Raciak texted the men to contact the police.
While Raciak was at the Emergency Room several hours later, he was interviewed by OCSO detectives.
During a recorded interview, Raciak indicated that he and Sheehan had been in a romantic relationship for eight years and lived together with their child at the scene of the murder.
Raciak told detectives that they hosted a birthday party on Saturday, April 15, and that several friends were in attendance. During the course of the night, Raciak says he noticed that Sheehan had “become jealous” and “mad” at him.
The couple began arguing after everyone left the party and their son went to sleep. Raciak claims that Sheehan “stomped” on his “already injured right foot” while the couple was in the master bedroom. He says they continued to argue and that Sheehan “came at” him, making him believe she was going to “claw his eyes out.”
Raciak says he was standing next to a dresser and that Sheehan pushed him into the dresser before he fell over. He says he then walked to his bedside table, opened the drawer, opened a locked, biometric gun safe, and removed a .40 caliber handgun.
He then walked back to the dresser and placed the firearm on top of the dresser.
The couple continued to argue and Raciak claims that Sheehan kept “coming at” him. Raciak, who stands 6’1″ and weighs 191 pounds, says he became “pissed” and did not want to strike Sheehan with his hands, but decided instead to use his firearm.
Sheehan stood approximately 5’1″ tall and weighed approximately 131 pounds.
Raciak told authorities that, in an effort to “put her down,” he tried to “shoot her in the leg” so that she would “chill,” but “aimed high” and shot her in the “butt” and shoulder.
Raciak admitted that when he shot Sheehan, she was facing away from him and walking toward the bathroom. He claimed multiple times during the interview that he was acting out of self-defense.
