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An Orange County man, Joseph Pennyfeather III, has been charged with second-degree murder following the fatal shooting of Tanzanica Dickerson on December 23 (Tuesday) in South Blooming Grove. According to the New York State Police, officers responded to a call about an unconscious woman with a gunshot wound at a residence on Heights Trail. Upon arrival, they found Dickerson, 45, suffering from a gunshot wound and apparent trauma. Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at Garnet Health Medical Center.
The investigation revealed that Pennyfeather, 44, and Dickerson lived together and had a verbal argument that escalated into a physical confrontation before the shooting. An autopsy conducted by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Dickerson died from a gunshot wound and blunt force trauma, ruling her death a homicide.
Pennyfeather was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned in Middletown Court and is being held at the Orange County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear in the Town of Blooming Grove Court on Monday, December 29 (Monday) at 9 a.m. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the State Police in Monroe.