An 84-year-old man is behind bars on attempted murder charges after police say a dispute over family visitation turned violent, ending with him shooting his own son in the face.
William Nowak was booked into the Brevard County Jail on Wednesday following the Tuesday evening incident at his Palm Bay home. According to local authorities, the shooting stemmed from Nowak’s belief that his family had not been coming around often enough.
Police responded to the residence around 6 p.m. after receiving a frantic call from the victim’s wife, who reported that her father-in-law had “just shot her husband in the head.”
READ: Caught On Tape: New York Doctor Jailed For $24M Scam Targeting Seniors At COVID Sites
According to the probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the situation began when Nowak’s son and daughter-in-law arrived for a visit. While the couple told investigators they visit Nowak weekly, the 84-year-old was reportedly agitated that he hadn’t seen them over the previous weekend.
The affidavit notes that Nowak lives under significant pressure; he acts as the primary caregiver for both his disabled daughter and his 85-year-old wife, who was recently placed on in-home hospice care.
As the argument over visitation schedules heated up, Nowak allegedly issued a grim ultimatum to his son: “Get out of my house or I’m going to shoot you.”
Investigators say Nowak then retreated to his bedroom to retrieve a firearm. Despite his daughter-in-law following him and begging him to put the weapon down, Nowak reportedly returned to the living area, aimed at his son, and pulled the trigger.
READ: ‘He Gave Them A Microphone, They Gave Him A Bullet’: Erika Kirk Defends Late Husband’s Legacy
When first responders arrived, the victim was barely able to speak. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was sedated; medical staff determined the bullet had fragmented upon impact, lodging pieces of metal in his face and jaw.
The scene inside the home immediately following the gunshot was described as chaotic and confusing. After firing the weapon, Nowak allegedly retreated to his bedroom and asked, “What just happened?” before breaking down into “crying and screaming,” the affidavit states.
Following the arrest, Nowak was initially hospitalized for high blood pressure and appeared incoherent, unable to answer detectives’ questions. After being medically cleared on Wednesday, he was transferred to jail.
A judge has ordered Nowak held without bond. He is scheduled to face arraignment on January 8.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
