New York City police officer Ekeythia Dunston (pictured above right), shot her lover, Erica LeGall (above left), Monday morning after LeGall attacked her with a clothing iron, authorities say.

According to the New York Post, Dunston, 32, received a text message around 3 a.m. on Monday. The message, whose contents not been disclosed but was apparently from another woman, angered LeGall, 42, to the point that she used the iron as a weapon. Both women were reportedly intoxicated.

Assistant district attorney David Smith explained the ensuing tumult: "[LeGall] hit the defendant with a handheld laundry iron about the head several times. The defendant [Dunston] pulled out her service revolver, which was loaded, and she shot twice." Dunston's shots hit LeGall in the thigh and shoulder. LeGall was taken to Harlem Hospital for treatment of the gunshot woulds, and Dunston checked into New York-Presbyterian with a head injury. Both women are in stable condition.

The women have been together five years and were raising two sons — Dunston's son, Daichoi, 13, and LeGall's son, Jaden, 7.  

Dunston has been charged with assault, weapons possession, and endangering the welfare of a child (both children as well as another 32-year-old woman, their baby-sitter, were home during the fight). Dunston is also filing an assault complaint against LeGall for the iron attack.

Said Dunston's attorney, Edgar De Leon: "Obviously there are extenuating circumstances here." He added, "I think it's safe to say that this relationship is over."

Follow SheWired on Twitter!

Follow SheWired on Facebook!