A 57-year-old man has been arrested and taken into custody for the second-degree murder of his 47-year-old wife, Tomika Chapman. This occurred on Tuesday night in New Orleans, LA, when Tomika was shockingly shot just outside her own home. According to police, Gregory Chapman confessed to the crime that evening and claimed his wife had told him, “You’re going to die today,” just before the shooting.
Since his arrest, Gregory Chapman is on suicide watch and has rescheduled his bond hearing. His bail has been set for $750,000.
Tomika’s long-time friend, Debra Barbain-Johnson, came forth with information detailing the events leading up to her death – including Tomika having recently filed a restraining order against her husband; moments before the shooting, she heard gunfire, saw Gregory pacing in the driveway and saw his sister and young daughter screaming.
The couple had been together for 30 years, with Gregory filing for divorce at least twice, and in that past year alone, Tomika had successfully filed for a two-week restraining order in January. In a protection order in October 2019, she wrote that Gregory had beaten her when she attempted to call the police.
Domestic violence is a serious matter, made all the more so with the tragic death of Tomika Chapman. This example serves as a reminder of the importance of taking restraining orders seriously, the need for resources to assist its victims, and the need for greater education and awareness of proper steps for those in need.