A Port Alberni woman is facing a charge of manslaughter in the shooting death of her son Sunday evening.
Samantha Jesselynn Dittmer was arrested at her home on 18th Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. on Aug. 29. She appeared before a justice of the peace at a telebail hearing the next day on a charge of careless use of a firearm.
On Thursday, the charge was upgraded to manslaughter using a firearm in the death of Jesse McPhee.
Dittmer remains in custody. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Next-door neighbour Dylan Gauthier said Dittmer and her son moved to the street in March 2019 and were known to drink and bicker, although he said he never witnessed any violence between mother and son.
Gauthier heard the shot, but thought it might have been someone slamming a tailgate. He knew McPhee was a hunter and had firearms and did archery.
Mike Barrowsmith, who lives across the street, also heard the gunshot, then saw a woman come out of the house, crying on her cellphone and asking for help.
Police were on the scene almost immediately, Barrowcliff said.
Dittmer was brought out of the house, handcuffed.
Barrowcliff said he heard bickering coming from the house around 2:30 p.m.
The B.C. Coroners Service is also investigating the death.
