BLANCHESTER — The victim of a shooting late Wednesday afternoon in Blanchester underwent surgery that night at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, according to police.

Mary Neace, 28, of 138 Orchard View Lane was shot in the torso by a 9mm Glock pistol fired by her boyfriend, Jamie McLaughlin, 31, of the same address, police said, but police were still in the early stages of the investigation.

Police said Wednesday that “amorous role-playing” played a part in the incident and the shooting may have been accidental.

After several calls from the News Journal to the hospital Thursday seeking the victim’s condition, a hospital spokesperson said there was no “Mary Neace” registered there, but due to the circumstances for which she may have been admitted, she could be under a different name.

However, the shooting may not have been accidental claims the victim’s sister, Kathleen Neace, who contacted the News Journal Thursday stating she believes that her sister was trying to defend herself after being beaten “half to death” by McLaughlin, adding that he has a felony record

She said she wants “help getting justice for my sister” and that Mary Neace is currently “in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) right now fighting for her life.”

Kathleen Neace added that Mary Neace has multiple bruises all over her body, a swollen eye and broken fingernails, and that she was given seven units of blood.

The investigation is continuing, Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt told the News Journal Thursday.

“We still have some interviews to complete, as well as processing some physical evidence, before I will know whether or not a criminal offense has been committed,” he said.

In response to the News Journal asking about some of the social media claims about the case, Reinbolt said, “The initial responding officer saw the victim as she was being removed the house on a stretcher. She was covered and under medical care. We did not stop the emergency medical treatment in order to view or photograph her. That would have been, at the least, ill-advised at that time.

“I can assure you that our current theory of the case (that it was an accidental shooting) is supported by evidence other than the statements of McLaughlin,” he added. “While saying more at this point would answer some of our critics, I’m afraid if I provide any additional detail on that point at this moment I could compromise the investigation. I’ll take the heat and preserve the integrity of the process.”

According to Clinton County court records, a Jamie L. McLaughlin was convicted in 2008 of a felony F5 — aggravated possession of drugs — and sentenced to a prison term.

There is also a drug-related felony F-3 conviction as well as a felony F-5 in 2007 in Greene County for which he was sentenced to prison time and forfeiture of a vehicle.

He also allegedly failed to appear on a driving under suspension charge April 17, 2018 in Clinton County Municipal Court.