Details on shooting, father charged with killing son

EAST UNION TWP., SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A father is being charged with murder of the third degree after killing his son during an argument, police stated.

John Francis Gustites, 67, of Sheppton, has been charged after investigators say he had an argument with his son over a vehicle that then escalated.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, on September 28, troopers were called to Franklin Street in East Union Township to help in a death investigation that happened that morning.

Gustites was taken into custody and interviewed by troopers where he stated around 8:30 a.m. he was woken up by his son, John Andrew Gustites, chasing one of their cats. As stated in the affidavit, Gustites went to the victim’s room to take the cat, and his son demanded that Gustites give him the family’s car.

An argument over the vehicle continued, prompting Gustites to enter his son’s bedroom with a .357 Magnum Revolver, according to court documents. The victim grabbed a Philips-Head screwdriver and approached Gustites when the gun went off, troopers stated.

State police said Gustites didn’t remember pulling the trigger and claimed he didn’t call EMS until he watched “religious videos” throughout the day, which eventually led him to call police.

Through further investigation, detectives learned that the victim suffered one gunshot wound to his face and the bullet was discovered in the wall of the victim’s bedroom.

Along with third-degree murder, Gustites faces reckless endangerment, simple assault, and aggravated assault.

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