Los Angeles Man Charged After Killing His Son Because He Was Gay
A father has been charged with the murder of his own son, for reasons that officials say are related to the son's gender preference.
According to Los Angeles Fox News, Shehada Issa said he shot his son multiple times in self-defense after he found his wife's dead body inside their house. While the unnamed mother's death is still being investigated, Issa could possibly face life in prison for the killing of his son, Amir.
Prosecutors said in a statement, "The murder was committed because of the victim's sexual orientation." Neighbors testified that there have been fights inside the house and in the morning of Tuesday, March 29, they heard gunshots.
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Authorities found the son's body at the front yard while the mother was discovered with multiple stab wounds inside the bathroom.
According to The Los Angeles Daily News, the 69-year-old suspect told police that his son was threatening him with a knife. Operations-Valley Bureau Homicide Detective John Doerbecker said, "He [Issa] claimed (the son) was armed with a knife, and there was no knife to be found (there). It was a horrible family tragedy."
Doerbecker further explained that the victim had been vandalizing the home and Issa and his deceased wife had been planning to kick him out.
One of the neighbors who has lived in the area for about 11 years, Maria Gomez, told authorities that over the past years, she has rarely seen both the son and mother go out of the house. Issa, on the other hand, sometimes talks to neighbors and he seemed to be a normal guy. While he was "strong in character," he was friendly, which is why Gomez could not believe the tragedy.
Police also revealed that Issa is clear in the area while his son had an assault charge in San Diego County. The dead have yet to be named as their nearest kin has not yet been notified at the time of Issa's arrest.
