Man says girlfriend's fatal shooting was 'self-defense'

ATLANTA - A man told investigators he shot his girlfriend in self-defense after police found a woman dead inside his home.

Joe Daniels returned to his house in 2300 block of Abner Place early Monday just after noon Monday after talking to homicide detectives for hours about what happened when he shot and killed his girlfriend, Shondra Hardin.

The 48-year-old woman was found dead inside Daniels’ home from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to investigators.

Police responded to the house around 4:30 a.m. Investigators said calls for help came from inside the home and from concerned neighbors after some sort of dispute. Daniels’ friends said Hardin was physically abusive and pulled knives on Daniel, and even them, numerous times in the past.

"He loved that woman, but it is not that much love in the world. He had to sleep in his car for three weeks and had to wait until she left to take a bath. That man sweet [sic]. This was self-defense," Eric Harris said.

Daniels broke down in tears when he talked about the volatile relationship.

"They know how the woman been treating me for a long time. I don't need to talk about this," Daniels’ wept.

Neighbors said the girlfriend constantly threatened the man and they believe whatever happened was self-defense.

Atlanta Police said officers responded to 18 calls at the Abner Place residence where the two lived just this year alone. They said many of those calls were fight calls.