Charles Tinker (Mug shot from Taney County)
Charles Tinker had had enough of his roommate not paying his share of the rent at their home in Missouri, authorities allege. So the octogenarian downed four shots of whiskey and allegedly shot him dead, reportedly telling authorities later, “He pushed my buttons.”
Tinker faces a second-degree murder charge in the killing of Jon Lovelace, 52, at their home in Bradleyville, an unincorporated community in southern Missouri.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime outlined the case.
Just after 7 p.m. on Nov. 2, the Taney County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that a man had been shot. Once there, deputies found Lovelace suffering from a gunshot wound. He was declared dead before he could be flown by helicopter to a trauma center. Tinker was quickly identified as the shooter and was detained as investigators confiscated a 9mm Ruger handgun.
Tinker shot Lovelace in the stomach with the handgun during an argument, the affidavit said, citing a witness.
Tinker was taken to a hospital to be medically cleared for confinement based on his “admitted and suspected alcohol consumption” before being released into the custody of the Taney County Jail, the affidavit said.
A search of the residence turned up a handgun magazine with 9 mm ammo and 9mm spent shell casings, the document said.
Tinker allegedly confirmed he shot Lovelace with a 9mm Ruger handgun, saying the victim told him he was going to kill him, so he went into his bedroom and retrieved a gun from the bedroom, authorities said in the affidavit.
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Tinker said he brought the firearm from the bedroom to the front door area of the residence, fired two shots behind a vehicle to make another individual leave and fired two additional shots at Lovelace.
“Tinker stated he was attempting to shoot the victim in the leg and was not sure where he had shot the victim,” the affidavit said.
After shooting him, he went inside the house and did not render aid, call 911 or go back outside to check on Lovelace, the document said.
Tinker allegedly told investigators Lovelace wasn’t helping to pay rent or additional costs of living, the affidavit said.
He also allegedly said he had “pushed my buttons” and “that’s all he was going to take,” the affidavit said.
Tinker said the situation had been escalating over time, said Lovelace did not have any weapons, and the two hadn’t been fighting when he shot him.
Tinker said he shot the victim from a combination of “fear of safety and being angry” and that he had consumed four shots of whiskey before the shooting.
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