Hanover, Pennsylvania — A domestic argument over something as simple as a hooded sweatshirt turned into a terrifying night for a local family this past Monday. Police say 38‑year‑old Andre Vincent McAfee pushed his wife down a flight of stairs during a heated dispute at their home in the 600 block of East Walnut Street, leaving her with grave injuries.
The couple’s son called police around 8:15 p.m., frantic and scared. He told officers his stepfather had shoved his mother and that she was lying unconscious at the bottom of the stairs in their basement. When officers arrived, McAfee claimed his wife had simply tripped over some shoes on the landing while they were arguing.
The son’s account told a different story. He said the argument began over where the hooded sweatshirt was — it was in their car parked in front of the house — and escalated as they walked down the stairs together. Moments later, he heard a loud thump and found his mother crumpled at the bottom.
Paramedics rushed her to the hospital. Doctors noted a probable fractured skull and signs of a brain bleed. In a shocking detail from the police report, a hair clip was found embedded in her skull, a grim testament to the force of the fall.
Police took McAfee into custody at the scene. In his statements to responding officers, he allegedly said his wife “shouldn’t have gotten in his way” during the incident, a phrase now noted in the arrest affidavit.
McAfee now faces several charges tied to the incident, including felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, and reckless endangerment. Authorities booked him into the York County Jail, where he later posted a bond. Court dates are pending as the investigation continues.
Neighbors in this quiet Hanover community say the case has left them shaken. Many are reminding one another that what begins as a small household spat can turn dangerous in a heartbeat, especially when tempers flare and emotions overflow after hours.
