LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A 78-year-old man is in jail after admitting to shooting and killing his 37-year-old son, according to documents.
The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office received a report of gunfire at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday on the 1600 block of 126th St.
78-year-old man arrested following deadly shooting in south Lubbock(KCBD, Julio Iglesias)
78-year-old man arrested following deadly shooting in south Lubbock(KCBD, Julio Iglesias)
Michael Vernie Owens made the call and said he shot and killed Michael Joseph Owens. Deputies arrived at the location and found Michael Joseph Owens with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Michael Vernie Owens then approached them and told deputies he was the victim’s dad.
According to court records investigators filed, Michael Vernie Owens said his son had been taking Social Security money from his bank account for the past several months. He said his son threatened him more than once in the past and assaulted on prior occasions. However, he did not report any of the alleged assaults to authorities.
He said his son told him, “I’m going to kill you,” on multiple occasions. He told detectives his son said that so many times “that it lost its value.”
On Wednesday, he went to open a new bank account and transfer his money so his son would no longer have access to it. He said his son found out about his trip to the bank and confronted him outside of an RV on the main property of the home.
He said his son whispered, “I’m going to kill you,” and made a move toward him. That’s when Michael Vernie Owens shot him in the head.
He told detectives, “I think I snapped,” according to documents. “I either snapped or had enough,” he added.
The elder Owens called 911 and stayed on-scene.
Michael Vernie Owens is currently in the Lubbock County Detention Center.
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