SHEPPTON, Pa. — Note: The above video is from an earlier story.
A Schuylkill County man shot his son to death this weekend during an argument over the use of the family vehicle, state police at Frackville said.
After the blast of a revolver Saturday, John F. Gustites thought of following his son, John A. Gustites, 42, into death.
Instead, the 67-year-old from East Union Township called emergency services to report he killed his child.
The circumstances that led up to a shooting at the Franklin Street home shared by the father and son were disclosed in a probable cause affidavit released Monday by the courts in Schuylkill County.
Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, of Port Carbon, arraigned Gustites on Sunday on charges of third-degree murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. Gustites remained locked up Monday at the Schuylkill County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Police in Schuylkill County said the shooting was an isolated incident. Gustites agreed to an interview with Troopers Ian Keck and Zachary McDonald, in which he acknowledged shooting his son.
Here's how Gustites said it happened, according to a state police investigation:
John F. Gustites woke Saturday morning to his son, John A. Gustites, chasing a cat around their home near Sheppton.
Before long, the two started arguing because John A. Gustites demanded the family Nissan Pathfinder.
During the dispute, the elder Gustites retrieved his revolver, a .357 magnum, and returned to his son's bedroom. There, the younger Gustites pulled a screwdriver out of his bedpost and started advancing on his father.
The revolver roared. It was just after 8:30 a.m.
John A. Gustites suffered a gunshot wound to his head, state police said. The bullet's path indicated a downward trajectory.
John F. Gustites told investigators he didn't remember squeezing the trigger, but he indicated he must have. He told the troopers his son made a "gurgling" noise and he knew he was dead.
During the hours that followed, John F. Gustites held off calling 911 while he thought over ending his own life.
He didn't. He instead spent the day watching religious content. That led him, by 8 p.m., to pick up the phone and dial for emergency services.
Gustites is next scheduled to appear in court Oct. 10 for a preliminary hearing. It was not clear Monday if he had an attorney.