Docs: 17-year-old shot father multiple times after argument over schooling

INDIANAPOLIS -- A 17-year-old has been charged with attempted murder and other felony counts after police say he shot and critically injured his father during an argument on Indy's east side.




According to court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, James Seals Jr. faces the following charges:

• Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony)





• Aggravated Battery (Level 3 Felony)





• Dangerous Possession of a Firearm (Class A Misdemeanor)

According to previous reports, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded on Aug. 6 to the 8200 block of Wysong Drive after receiving reports about a shooting that had left a man critically injured.




While officers were on scene, they were told that the alleged shooter was the victim's juvenile son. Court documents have shed new light on the circumstances that led to this bloody encounter between a son and father.

"I just shot your b**** a** son": A violent ending to an argument over the future

Detectives detained Seals a short time later as they worked to uncover what exactly had happened. They proceeded to interview the suspect's grandmother, who they soon learned was inside the residence when the shooting occurred.




She recalled overhearing Seals as he shouted from his room shortly after noon. She said she then exited her room and saw Seals' father walking through the yard toward the front door of the home. She claimed Seals was standing near the door armed with two guns as he waited for his father to enter.




She said the father said something about Seals pointing the firearms at him before throwing punches, court documents said. The two of them then fell to the ground before the grandmother said she grabbed the two firearms and hid them under clothing on top of a washer and dryer.




The fight between the suspect and his father then continued for several more minutes as the grandmother tried to calm them down. However, these efforts proved to be in vain as the fight continued to escalate. The grandmother said she had to go to the restroom, and while she was away, court documents show that she heard gunshots ring out.




As she approached, court documents reveal that she saw her son suffering from multiple apparent gunshot wounds and having blood come from his mouth. Following the incident, the grandmother told police she ran to another family member's house on the same street for assistance. She said Seals also went there before allegedly telling the grandmother, "I just shot your b**** a** son."




The grandmother told detectives that she believed the argument stemmed from a disagreement over whether Seals would attend school in person or remotely.

Investigation, arrest

Officers on scene then requested assistance from a K-9 unit to help search for a third firearm they believed Seals had attempted to dispose of. As the investigation unfolded, they reported seizing a magazine that was stuck on top of a fence just above the firearm in the backyard of the residence.




Detectives then met and spoke with the suspect's grandfather, who explained that Seals had reported having issues in the house with his father before.




The grandfather said Seals had allegedly ran past his house while telling him, "Grandpa, I shot my dad. I told him if he ever put his hands on me again, I'd do that."




Later that same day, detectives executed a search warrant at the residence where they searched through Seals' room. They reportedly discovered a 3D printer and a 3D-printed handgun frame directly next to it.




They also reported finding parts for an AR-pattern firearm, a 3D-printed frame with a magazine loaded with live rounds and 9mm ammunition. Detectives also served a search warrant on the weapon that was left in the backyard. It was determined to be a Sig Sauer P365 with a magazine containing four live rounds.




Detectives then turned their attention to the victim, who had been receiving care at Eskenazi Hospital. During an interview, he explained that Seals was supposed to begin school on Aug. 6. He stated that Seals claimed his mother had permitted him to do online schooling. The father said he disagreed with this and was upset with the lack of communication.




The father said he then arrived at the residence to "handle the situation" before walking inside and seeing Seals waiting for him while allegedly pointing two firearms in his direction.




The father said he took the guns from his son before he went to his bedroom and retrieved a gun. He said he pointed it at his son's chest while saying, "You're not built for this." The father said he did not expect Seals to actually shoot him, according to court documents.




He advised police that Seals allegedly snatched the gun from him and attempted to shoot him before realizing there was no bullet in the chamber. Seals then racked the slide on the firearm and shot his father multiple times. The father concluded the interview by saying that it was not self-defense.




Online court records indicate that the court has set a $200,000 cash bond for Seals and issued a No Contact Order. Seals is scheduled to appear in Marion Superior Court 28 on Oct. 20 for a jury trial.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/docs-17-year-old-shot-father-multiple-times-after-argument-over-schooling/