David McCall, 72, of 493 Lowell Ave in Wakefield pleaded not guilty in Malden District Court on Monday to charges that he shot and murdered his wife Elaine McCall, 69, on the morning of March 28.

McCall is accused of shooting his wife in the chest after the couple had an argument, according to Attorney General Gerard Leone, although officials did not elaborate on the subject or cause of the argument.

At 8:15 a.m. this morning, Wakefield Police responded to the Lowell Street residence after a reported 9-1-1 call from McCall who said there was a murder at his residence and there would be a suicide. On the call, he allegedly told police he shot his wife and was going to kill himself.

"Use the back door because there is a body blocking the front door," he reportedly said on the 9-1-1 call, which has not been released to the public, but was mentioned at the arraignment.

When police arrived, they found McCall's wife, Elaine, injured on the kitchen floor, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was transported to Melrose-Wakefield hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

"It does appear that the defendent placed two shots towards his wife, with the first shot missing and the second shot striking her," said Suzanne Kohn, assitant district attorney and chief of the domestic violence unit.

McCall apparently did not follow through with his threat to commit suicide, but he did experience a minor injury inside the house for which he was treated, according to his defense attorney, Michael Kelly. Officials would not elaborate on the record if the injury was self-inflicted. 

Kelly said it's a very "troubling and traumatic" time for McCall.

"He is in shock," he said outside the courtroom. "He is suffering from the side-effects of the shock."

In court, McCall appeared visibily shaken and was unable to stand on his own. He was brought into the courtroom in a make-shift wheelchair and held up on his feet by three individuals during his arraingment.

McCall was a licensed firearm owner, and his gun was resgistered through the Wakefield Police Department. Wakefield Police had previously never responded to that address for any incidents or disturbances of any kind.

The McCall’s have one son and two daughters. Their son and one daughter live locally. Their second daughter is in the Air Force and out-of-state.

Jane Mann, whose daughters are grandchildren to the McCall's, said this is a very sad time for her family.

"My girls are very upset to learn that they have lost their grandmother," Mann said. "I don't know what happened and I, as many others, continue to be stunned by this situation."

Several Wakefield residents who are friends of the family and asked to remain anonymous said they were "extremely surprised" by the crime.

"He is a veteran of the armed forces," said one friend. "He was a member of the American Legion in Wakefield."

McCall is charged with first degree murder and discharing a fire weapon. Judge Dominic J. Paratore of Malden District Court ordered McCall held without bail, and he will be sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for competency and criminal responsibility evaluations.

McCall is next scheduled to appear in Malden District Court on April 26 for a probable cause hearing.