Father Waited 12 Hours After Shooting His Son to Call 911: Police

The House Where John F. Gustites Allegedly Shot His Son (WNEP).

A Pennsylvania father is accused of shooting his son during a dispute over the family vehicle and waiting 12 hours to call 911 while watching “religious videos.”

John F. Gustites, 67, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault in the death of his son, John A. Gustites, 42, authorities said.

The shooting occurred Saturday after the elder Gustites woke up sometime between 8 and 9 a.m. after hearing his son chasing a cat around his room, Skook News reported, citing court documents. The father allegedly went to his son's room to get the cat when the son demanded the family car. The two argued. The elder Gustites allegedly retrieved a .357 Magnum revolver and went back to his son's room.

The son grabbed a screwdriver from his bedpost and approached his father, at which point the younger Gustites was shot in the head, according to court documents.

The elder Gustites didn't call police immediately because he was thinking about taking his own life, he later allegedly told investigators, local ABC affiliate WNEP reported, citing court documents.

Instead, he watched hours of religious videos, which led him to call the police, Skook News reported.

At 8 p.m., East Union Township Police Chief Chris Dimmick was dispatched to a home on Franklin Street from that shooting, police said in a news release. East Union Township is more than 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

When the chief arrived, the elder Gustites was sitting on the porch where he was arrested, and investigators found his son dead from a gunshot wound to the face in the bedroom.

The suspect reportedly told investigators he didn't remember pulling the trigger, but admitted he did. He said he knew his son was dead after he made a “gurgling” sound, WNEP reported.

The suspect was being held in the Schuylkill County Jail. Bail was set at $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 10, online court records show.

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Father Waited 12 Hours After Shooting His Son to Call 911: Police

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