Sioux Falls man charged with manslaughter in death of fetus

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A Sioux Falls man has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after his handgun fired, struck his wife who lost her unborn child.

Melanie Pettibone’s sister says Pettibone was shot in the thigh when the gun accidentally discharged Sunday while her husband, Sheldon Pettibone, was cleaning it at their apartment.

Emily Snedeker  says her sister was pregnant with her fourth child who was due in March. Snedeker says her 23-year-old sister was hospitalized in an intensive care unit but has since been moved to another hospital room where she is recovering.

Police arrested 22-year-old Sheldon Pettibone for negligently discharging the gun. The manslaughter charge was filed Wednesday. It was not clear if he has an attorney.