HENDERSON, NV (KTNV/CNN) – A Las Vegas-area man faces murder charges after authorities say he shot and killed his 14-year-old son, a crime that friends say the father may have committed because his son was gay.
Police say 53-year-old Wendell Melton got into an argument with his 14-year-old, Giovanni, after the teenager didn’t go to school on Nov. 2.
The man had rented an apartment for Giovanni because his son and his new wife did not get along, according to the arrest report. The 14-year-old had lived there alone since March.
When Melton went to check on Giovanni, the two argued, and the teenager reportedly pushed his father to the ground.
Melton told police he had a gun because he was afraid of some of the people that Giovanni hangs out with. He says Giovanni moved to attack him again, and he accidentally shot the 14-year-old because his finger was on the trigger.
Police say Melton’s version of what happened changed several times, and he was untruthful about where the gun came from until evidence contradicted his statements. They believe he pulled the gun on his son before he believed himself to be in danger.
Sofja Jones, a woman who considers herself Giovanni’s foster mom after she took in the teenager and his older brother when they were kicked out of the house, says Melton didn’t like the fact the 14-year-old was gay.
The boys said Melton had once pulled a gun on Giovanni after finding him with a boyfriend, according to Jones.
Melton faces charges of murder, child abuse and possession of a gun by a prohibited person.
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