Police: Father shot, killed son after dispute over cat, car
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Police tape crosses Franklin Street in Sheppton as state troopers huddle at the porch of a home at 31 Franklin Street early on Sept. 29, 2024.
SHEPPTON – A Sheppton man is accused of shooting his adult son after an argument over a cat and the family SUV, court paperwork states.
John Francis Gustites, 67, of 31 Franklin Street, is accused of third degree murder in the Saturday shooting of his son, 42-year-old John A. Gustites.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Trooper Zachary McDonald of the State Police at Frackville, police were called around 8pm Saturday by the elder Gustites reporting that he had shot his son around 8:30am that morning in the family home.
Police officers from East Union Township, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, and Frackville all responded and the elder Gustites was taken into custody while the younger Gustites was found dead in a second floor bedroom.
State troopers interviewed the elder Gustites, who was read his Miranda warnings prior. He told police that he woke up to his son chasing a cat around the bedroom.
He went into his son’s bedroom to get the cat and his son then demanded to use the family car, a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder.
A verbal argument ensued and the elder Gustites left the room with the cat and returned with a revolver.
The son had grabbed a screwdriver and approached the father. The elder Gustites told police he didn’t remember pulling the trigger, but did say that he pulled the hammer back on the weapon before entering the room.
He told troopers he knew his son was dead but did not immediately call emergency services. After watching a religious video, he was led to call emergency services.
The elder Gustites was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $250,000 bail.
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