Father charged with shooting and killing son because he was gay
A father in Los Angeles County has been charged with shooting and killing his son because he was gay.
The man was charged with premeditated murder, as prosecutors alleged that the man shot his son because of his sexual orientation.
The 69-year-old man, Shehada Issa, had previously threatened to kill his 29-year-old son Amir because of his sexuality, said the district attorney’s office.
“The murder was committed because of the victim’s sexual orientation and because of the defendant’s perception of that status and the victims’ association with a person and a group of that status,” said a statement from prosecutors.
He was arrested on Tuesday after LA police officers found his son’s body outside in the North Hills area.
Inside the house, Issa’s wife was found stabbed to death.
According to the accused, he shot his son after he threatened him with a knife, and that he found his wife dead in the bathroom of the house.
“He claimed [the son] was armed with a knife, and there was no knife to be found. It was a horrible family tragedy,” said Detective John Doerbecker to the Daily News following the arrest.
Detectives are currently investigating who killed Issa’s wife.
Issa is currently being held without bail, and is set to be arraigned on 11 April.
If convicted, he could face life in jail.
