An 86-year-old Florida man said he killed his wife while she slept because she was in poor health and he could no longer afford her medications, according to an arrest affidavit.

William J. Hager of Port St. Lucie said he had been thinking about killing his wife Carolyn for several days because she was in pain, the arrest report said.

After Hager shot his wife, he went to his kitchen and drank coffee, called his daughters and later dialed 911, the affidavit said.

“I want to apologize I didn’t call earlier, I wanted to tell my kids what happened first,” detectives quoted him as saying.

The shooting happened around 7:30 Monday morning at 7865 Meadowlark Ln. in Port St. Lucie.

At a Tuesday afternoon news conference the sheriff’s office said Carolyn Hager had been ill and suffering for around 15 years. 

They department says William took a job at Sears for a while to try and help pay for the medication.

The sheriff's office said there are always options for people in a similar situation.

Hager was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail and faces a charge of first-degree murder.