In a Pennsylvania courtroom on Monday, a chilling confession was heard from a man accused of murdering his teenage girlfriend. Darion Abel, 27, reportedly admitted to a police officer that he had shot his girlfriend 17 times. The victim, Miranda Grimm-Gilarski, was only 19 years old at the time of her death in 2018.
According to Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney Alexa Roberts, Abel fired at Grimm-Gilarski at close range until his gun was empty. Roberts emphasized the intent behind such an act, stating that a person does not shoot another individual 17 or 18 times without intending for that person to die.
The tragic incident occurred at Grimm-Gilarski’s home in Munhall, a suburb of Pittsburgh, on November 17, 2018. After the shooting, Abel drove to the Munhall Police parking lot and approached Officer Jason Poniewaz to turn himself in. When asked what he was turning himself in for, Abel responded, “Murder. I just shot my girlfriend 17 times.”
Abel was subsequently charged with homicide, burglary, and carrying a 9 mm pistol without a license. Grimm-Gilarski’s body was found on her living room floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators discovered several holes in the floor beneath her body and projectiles in the basement ductwork, suggesting that Abel continued to fire rounds even after Grimm-Gilarski had fallen to the ground.
Since his arrest, Abel has been held without bail. His trial has been rescheduled nearly 20 times since 2019. The relationship between Abel and Grimm-Gilarski was reportedly violent, with multiple instances of assault. The most recent altercation occurred just weeks before the fatal shooting, on October 30, 2018.
Abel’s defense attorney is not disputing that his client killed Grimm-Gilarski. However, he argues that Abel was pushed to the brink by a court order he received on the day of the shooting. The attorney is asking the jury to find Abel guilty but mentally ill.
The defense plans to call a psychiatrist who evaluated Abel in 2022 and again in April this year. The psychiatrist is expected to testify about Abel’s “diminished capacity” at the time of the shooting. The prosecution, on the other hand, plans to call multiple witnesses, including Officer Poniewaz and Grimm-Gilarski’s stepsister, who was only 11 at the time of the deadly shooting.