HARMAR, Pa. (AP) - A man told authorities that he “accidentally” shot and killed his father after his dad badmouthed his girlfriend and their baby.
Shane Howard, 23, of East Deer, also told authorities that he hit his father David Howard, 47, of Harmar, in the face and head with a fire extinguisher before shooting him early Wednesday with a shotgun. Shane Howard reported the shooting to Harmar police around 3:10 a.m. and was charged with homicide and tampering with evidence.
It wasn’t known Thursday if Shane Hopward has retained an attorney.
The shooting occurred in David Howard’s recreational vehicle trailer. Police went there after Shane Howard reported the shooting, and they found David Howard lying face down on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head.
Shane Howard told police he argued with his girlfriend Tuesday night and left her sister’s house on foot. He was walking along a road when a police officer gave him a courtesy ride to his dad’s home, authorities said.
Shane Howard told police he had lived with his father, but moved out to live with his girlfriend and their baby. Howard told police he and his father began fighting after David Howard criticized his son’s girlfriend.
Tempers flared again after Shane Howard called his girlfriend to apologize and his father overheard the call. The two men then scuffled, authorities said, and Shane Howard said he got the shotgun and walked over to his father because he thought his father was reaching for a nearby rifle.
Shane Howard told authorities that he held the shotgun to the back of his father’s head and the gun went off. He then called a friend to come to pick him up, and put the rifle and shotgun in his friend’s trunk, apparently without the friend’s knowledge.
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