MADISON, WISCONSIN: A man has been apprehended after he allegedly admitted to claiming the life of his 25-year-old son while the duo was fighting over the son's demand for a meagre amount of $2.50. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, a criminal complaint disclosed the extent of the “finances” over which the two men were fighting.
Zachary Shively had reportedly demanded that his father give him $2.50, but he had only $2 and what amounted to a little over 30 cents in change. The outlet reports that the accused told police that his son “kept hammering” and that he needed 25 cents more.
Who is John Shively?
John Shively, 64, is accused of killing his son Zachary while the two engaged in a fight over money. He has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and use of a dangerous weapon. John posted a bond on July 25 and has a hearing scheduled for August 1.
On June 22, officers reportedly responded to calls to a home at around 6.38 pm, police in Madison, Wisconsin said in an incident report. “Upon arrival, an adult male was located deceased inside a residence,” the incident report said.
The authorities discovered a firearm at the scene and took who was then described as a “person of interest” into custody without incident. “He provided a statement to investigators, saying he and the victim were arguing over finances when the argument turned physical,” the incident report said.
What did the accused say?
John Shively reportedly said that the fight concerned more than just money. He claimed he owes taxes on his house and had fallen behind on mortgage and credit card payments and that the fight was about several bad decisions. It subsequently fuelled a physical confrontation, with the victim allegedly hitting his father on the upper arm and pushing him into the corner. John landed in a chair and bumped his head, even though he said he was not injured from that.
As per the complaint, John Shively then tried to go upstairs but Zachary grabbed him from behind and continued to hit him. It was at that moment, John grabbed his son’s gun that his son left on a ledge at the bottom of the stairs after reportedly using it to fire shots from a moving car earlier that night. The accused then fired “point blank” as Zachary Shively allegedly approached him.
The victim apparently lost his life from a single gunshot wound to the heart and aorta, the State Journal report stated.
What did John tell the police?
“I foolishly thought that with a gun right at him that he would just finally give me respite,” John Shively allegedly told police. “I can’t tell you how much I regret that I picked it up,” he allegedly told police, adding that he thought his son would “finally back down” with a gun pointed at him. “It was a big argument for (25 cents), is that insane or …” he also reportedly said.
The outlet reported that the accused allegedly told a man who lived with them to “call 911,” following the incident. John Shively himself also called the emergency line. “I pulled the trigger,” he reportedly said while sitting in a squad car after police arrived.
