A father’s 911 call led deputies to a suburban Lubbock home where a deadly family dispute unfolded, ending with a 37-year-old man shot in the head and his 78-year-old father taken into custody.
LUBBOCK, TX – A Lubbock County man is facing a murder charge after authorities say he admitted to fatally shooting his adult son during a confrontation Wednesday evening at a residence on 126th Street. Deputies responded around 7:20 p.m. after receiving a 911 call from the suspect, who allegedly told dispatchers he had shot and killed his son.
Michael Vernie Owens, 78, was arrested at the scene and charged with one count of murder in the death of 37-year-old Michael Joseph Owens, according to the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived, they found the younger man with a fatal gunshot wound to the head inside the property.
Dispute over money and prior threats
According to court documents obtained by KCBD, the elder Owens approached deputies and identified himself as the victim’s father before describing the events that led to the shooting. He told investigators that his son had been withdrawing Social Security funds from his bank account for several months and had previously threatened and assaulted him.
None of those alleged assaults had been reported to authorities, the sheriff’s office said.
The defendant told deputies his son frequently threatened him, saying, “I’m going to kill you,” but added that the statement had become so common “that it lost its value.” On Wednesday, Owens said he went to open a new bank account to prevent further access to his money.
When he returned home, he said his son confronted him near an RV on the property after learning about the bank visit. The confrontation escalated, and the son allegedly repeated the threat, again saying, “I’m going to kill you,” before making a move toward him.
Confession and arrest
Owens told investigators that was when he fired the gun, striking his son in the head. He later described his state of mind to detectives, saying, “I think I snapped,” and adding, “I either snapped or had enough.”
The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Owens was taken into custody without incident. He is currently being held at the Lubbock County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.
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