A man was arrested Tuesday on a murder charge a day after allegedly shooting and killing his father at their home in Wareham, Massachusetts, authorities said.
Robert Gomes III, 26, is suspected of killing his father, 61-year-old Robert Gomes Jr., with a ghost gun during an argument over a power washer, according to court documents.
Tearful members of the Gomes family was in Wareham District Court Tuesday as Gomes III was ordered was held without bail on murder and gun charges, describing the situation as awful.
Gomes III told police his father had yelled, "I'm going to kill you," amid the argument, according to the court documents. He'd asked his father to unlock their shed so he could take a picture of the power washer.
But on the way to the shed, the documents state, Gomes Jr. became more irritated, and when he yelled he was going to kill his son, Gomes III grabbed a gun he bought online, with no serial number, and fired two bullets, killing his unarmed father.
Gomes III called 9-1-1 to report the shooting.
Police responded to a domestic call at the home on Main Street about a year ago, the court documents said, during which Gomes Jr. told officers his son was being "belligerent" and "tearing up" the house. A neighbor allegedly told police he'd had his life threatened.
Lawyers for the prosecution and defense both called the situation tragic after the hearing.
"It's a senseless brazen act that didn't need to happen and unfortunately it's a tragedy for the family, it's a tragedy for the community," Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said.
Gomes III is due back in court Dec. 27.
Wareham police had said on Monday they had an active crime scene on Main Street between Pierceville and County roads, but offered few details. Footage from the scene showed crime scene tape surrounding a large area around a home.
Police said there was no immediate threat to the public and that the shooting was not believed to be a random act of violence.
