Sheppton man found guilty in murder of son in dispute over cat, family 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.
POTTSVILLE – A Sheppton man was found guilty at trial this week of third degree murder and related charges in the shooting death of his son last fall.
John Francis Gustites, 68, of 31 Franklin Street, was convicted Wednesday, according to online court records.
A jury returned a guilty verdict for felony charges of third degree murder, and aggravated assault, and misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and simple assault.
He was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
The shooting happened Sept. 28 at the Gustites home on Franklin Street.
According to the criminal complaint filed at that time, police were called around 8pm that day as Gustites reported shooting and killing his son, 42-year-old John A. Gustites, around 8:30am that day.
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.
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