84-year-old father shot his son in the face after a family argument in Florida
An 84-year-old man was arrested in Palm Bay, Florida, accused of attempted murder after shooting his son in the face during an argument
An 84-year-old father shot his own son during a heated family argument inside his home in Palm Bay, Florida, according to court documents cited by local media.
The arrested man was identified as William Nowak, who faces charges of attempted murder after the shooting that occurred Tuesday night. Police responded to the scene after the victim's wife reported that her father-in-law had shot her husband in the head. The bullet lodged in his face and jaw. Upon arrival, officers found the man critically wounded and slurring his speech. According to the affidavit, the bullet fragmented upon impact and became lodged in his face and jaw. Nowak lived with his wife, who is currently receiving hospice care at home, and a disabled daughter, whom he cared for. The argument began when the elderly man expressed his displeasure that his son had not visited his mother the previous weekend. According to court documents, the argument escalated rapidly. At one point, Nowak allegedly warned his son, "Get out of my house or I'll shoot you." He then went to his bedroom, retrieved a firearm, and returned to the common area. The injured man's wife tried to stop him, pleading with him to put the gun down, but he ignored her pleas and shot her son directly. Confusion after the attack and detention without bail. After the shooting, Nowak returned the gun to his bedroom and showed signs of confusion, asking, "What just happened?" before breaking down in tears and screams, according to the police report. Authorities found blood on the kitchen floor, in the entryway of the home, and a spent bullet casing. The gun was located on the defendant's bed. Nowak was initially taken to a hospital for hypertension and later booked into the Brevard County Jail, where a judge ordered him held without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 8.

