Stepfather Killed Teen Stepson Following a Dispute Over Shelter-in-Place Order

Name: Stepfather Killed Teen Stepson Following a Dispute Over Shelter-in-Place Order
Uploaded: 2024-12-31T16:08:46.000Z
Description: Authorities in Georgia said a stepfather shot and killed his teen stepson following a dispute over the boy's wishes to leave the house during the shelter-in-place order.

Authorities in Georgia said a stepfather shot and killed his teen stepson following a dispute over the boy's wishes to leave the house during the shelter-in-place order.

NTD Newsroom

Published: 4/23/2020, 12:36:41 PM EDT

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Authorities in Georgia reported another family tragedy during the CCP virus crisis after a stepfather shot and killed his teenage stepson following a dispute over the boy's wishes to leave the house during the shelter-in-place order.

The stepfather, identified as 42-year-old Bernie Hargrove, was arrested for the deadly shooting that happened Wednesday night on Lisbon Drive in southwest Atlanta.

Hargrove has been charged with felony murder following the shooting death of 16-year-old De’onte Roberts, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on the afternoon of April 23.

The dispute unfolded after Roberts started a fight with his parents over the current shelter-in-place order, the victim's mother told detectives.

"The 16-year-old refused his parents' orders to remain in the home and comply with recent shelter-in-place directives," police said in a statement.

"Later, the victim returned to the home and kicked in the door to the house where a physical fight began between the suspect and the victim. During that altercation the victim was shot."

Hargrove shot the teen multiple times, authorities told news outlets. Roberts was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries to his chest and was later pronounced dead.

Responding officers apprehended Hargrove shortly afterwards and he was booked into the Fulton County Jail, The Associated Press reported.

"Tensions get high because you’re in the same space, day in and day out," Atlanta Police Captain D’Andrea Price said. "However, when the pressure gets high, you just have to take a deep breath and you have to separate."

It is not yet clear if Hargrove had an attorney who could comment during his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.

During the current Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic, officials said the vast majority of 911 calls so far involved "domestic disputes and crisis intervention calls."

Some experts fear that the further the COVID-19 crisis spreads across the United States, and the more people are placed under lockdown, a surge in domestic violence is possible.

Teen Held Without Bond in Mother's Stabbing Death

A Maryland teen—identified as 19-year-old David Frederick Miner IV—was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his mother 45-year-old Samantha Annette Miner on April 19.

Maryland teen David Frederick Miner IV, who is held without bond in his mother's stabbing death. (Courtesy of The Frederick Police Department) — Maryland teen David Frederick Miner IV, who is held without bond in his mother's stabbing death. Courtesy of The Frederick Police Department

Responding officers with the Frederick Police Department found the woman with stab wounds in her neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators working on the case interviewed Miner IV and the teen told them that he had been using drugs during the current shelter-in-place order and that he had an urgent "desire to kill the family dog."

In the interview obtained by WFMD, the teen's mother reportedly tried to stop him after he grabbed a knife to kill the dog, then the teen stabbed his mother instead.

Police said he admitted to stabbing his mother, but he could not remember clearly what happened. The teen's father called the police after finding his wife in the house.

The Maryland teen is currently held without bond.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.