The home where John F. Gustites allegedly shot his son (WNEP).
A Pennsylvania father is accused of shooting and killing his son during an argument over the family’s vehicle and waited 12 hours to call 911 while he watched “religious videos.”
John F. Gustites, 67, faces charges of murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault in the death of his son, John A. Gustites, 42, authorities said.
The shooting happened on Saturday after the elder Gustites woke up sometime between 8 and 9 a.m. after hearing his son chasing a cat around his room, Skook News reported, citing court documents. The father allegedly went into his son’s room to get the cat when the son demanded the family’s car. The two argued. The elder Gustites allegedly retrieved a .357 Magnum revolver and went back into his son’s room.
The son grabbed a screwdriver out of his bedpost and approached his father, which was when the younger Gustites was shot in the head, according to court documents.
The elder Gustites didn’t call the police right away because he thought about taking his own life, he later allegedly told investigators, reported local ABC affiliate WNEP, also citing court documents.
Instead, he watched religious videos for hours, which led him to call the police, Skook News reported.
At 8 p.m., East Union Township Police Chief Chris Dimmick was dispatched from that shooting call to a home on Franklin Street, police said in a press release. East Union Township is more than 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
When the chief arrived, the elder Gustites was sitting on the porch where he was arrested and investigators found his son dead in the bedroom from a gunshot wound to the face.
The suspect allegedly told investigators he didn’t remember pulling the trigger but acknowledged he must have. He said he knew his son was dead after hearing his son making a “gurgling” sound, WNEP reported.
The suspect was being held at the Schuylkill County Prison with bail set at $250,000. He’s set to appear in court on Oct. 10, online court records show.
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