By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — A woman who was allegedly shot by her NYPD officer girlfriend during a dispute over a text message was arraigned on an assault charge Tuesday.
The officer's girlfriend, Erica Legall, hobbled out of the courthouse apparently badly injured after a judge released her on her own recognizance.
She was charged with second-degree assault for allegedly whacking the officer, Ekeythia Dunston, in the head with an iron several times before she was shot, according to the criminal complaint.
Prosecutors said Dunston, 32, used her NYPD-assigned revolver to shoot Legall after a reportedly suspicious text message from another woman sparked a violent argument. Their two sons were sleeping in their Harlem apartment at the time.
Dunston was charged with first-degree assault for firing her weapon and was suspended from duty.
Her attorney called it a "justified" response to the iron assault when speaking to her reporters after Dunston's arraignment last week.
"She was going to get her head cracked open," the attorney, Edgar De Leon said.
Dunston is reportedly the niece of former MLB shortstop Shawon Dunston.
