Port Charlotte, FL – In a chilling twist to a family tragedy, Joshua Nareau, 23, is accused of shooting and killing his grandfather, 71-year-old James S. Khoury, and then speaking glowingly of him at the funeral. Authorities in Charlotte County, Florida, arrested Nareau on February 15, charging him with second-degree murder for the December 28 incident outside Khoury’s Port Charlotte home.
During the funeral, Nareau, captured in a screenshot speaking at the First Baptist Church of North Port, referred to his grandfather as “Grampy” and credited him with shaping his character and aspirations. He expressed gratitude to the attendees for their love and shared memories of his grandfather, emphasizing his desire to emulate Khoury’s positive impact on others.
The arrest came after a 911 call from Khoury’s wife early on December 28, reporting the shooting. Responding deputies found Khoury deceased with a gunshot wound to the chest and a holstered gun at his side. Nearby, Nareau was discovered sitting in the grass, who claimed he came over after being informed of the shooting by his grandmother. The case has left the community and the family grappling with the profound betrayal and the unsettling details surrounding Khoury’s death.