Video demolishes son's self-defense claim in shooting death of father: Police

Brandon Cain (Mug shot from Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

A Florida man accused of killing his father with multiple gunshots outside his home before calling 911 and claiming the slaying was in self-defense is now facing a murder charge after video surveillance shattered his story, authorities said.

Brandon Cain, 23, faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm in the death of his father, Daniel Cain Jr., 52, according to online court records. He also faces charges of discharging a firearm in public and shooting a deadly missile into a vehicle.

The bloodshed happened on July 3 at 12:22 a.m. in the 1300 block of Danbury Street SW in Palm Bay, Florida, according to a probable cause affidavit . Palm Bay is more than 70 miles southeast of Orlando.

Brandon Cain called 911 saying he shot his father, the document said. He told a dispatcher what he was wearing and said he’d disarm himself and put his gun on a trailer in the front yard for when police arrived, the affidavit said. Then he told the dispatcher his father was lying outside and “he didn’t think he was breathing” before saying he had to talk to his mother and ending the 911 call, the affidavit said.

At the home, investigators found the victim dead on a sidewalk in front of the house. Shell casings were scattered around, and police found a gun on a trailer.

Brandon Cain was detained. At one point, he told officers he was having chest pain and was taken to a hospital emergency room. There, he told investigators he shot his father in self-defense after an argument he and his father had, the affidavit said.

He was released from custody but was arrested days later after detectives saw video footage that captured the shooting from multiple angles, court documents said.

It shows Daniel Cain sitting outside near a pickup truck when his son walks outside, court documents said.

“Brandon takes one step out of his front door and draws his firearm, immediately concealing it behind his body,” the affidavit said.

The two are seen exchanging words as Brandon Cain, concealing the gun behind him, walks toward Daniel Cain, who stands and stumbles as he is intoxicated, court documents said.

From the affidavit:

“Daniel Cain does not advance toward Brandon in an aggressive manner. Brandon then aims the firearm towards Daniel. Brandon takes two large lunges forward and begins firing multiple rounds, striking Daniel. Daniel falls by the stack of pavers. Brandon then ceases fire, lowering his firearm. Daniel does not appear to move as he lays on the ground. Brandon then raises his firearm again, firing multiple rounds towards Daniel from approximately 3 feet away. Brandon does not check on his father, and goes back inside of his residence.”

Brandon Cain was rearrested on Tuesday and agreed to speak with detectives. He repeated to investigators at a Palm Bay Police Department station his earlier claim from the hospital that the shooting was in self-defense and that his father “advanced on him aggressively,” the affidavit said.

After he was shown the video footage of him shooting his father, he claimed “he did not remember that that is how the incident occurred,” the affidavit said.

Brandon Cain is being held without bond at the Brevard County Jail. He was set for an arraignment on Aug. 8, records show.

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