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Father Allegedly Shoots Adult Son, Has 20-Minute ‘Father-Son’ Chat With Him, Then Stabs Him To Death
Sherman Shirley Fricks was fed up with his son's "smart" comments when he allegedly shot — and then stabbed — the 27-year-old to death.
A Texas father is accused of shooting his son, pausing to have a quick "father-son" conversation, and then stabbing him to death.
Police received a call about a domestic disturbance in Deer Park, Texas on Sunday. When they arrived at the scene, they discovered Sherman Fricks Jr., 27, suffering from multiple wounds. Officers performed CPR until EMS workers arrived and took the victim to a Bayshore Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police then arrested the victim's father, 68-year-old Sherman Shirley Fricks, and charged him with first-degree felony murder, according to ABC 13 of Houston, Texas.
In a probable cause hearing on Monday, a prosecutor explained the apparent mounting tension between the two.
"[Fricks] stated that he had called law enforcement on [his son] in the past, but they were never able to fix it," the prosecutor said, according to The Houston Chronicle. "So today, he decided to fix it."
The prosecutor stated that the day before the alleged murder, Fricks and his son had been arguing over a broken phone, prompting the junior Fricks to kick the front seat of a car in which the senior Fricks' girlfriend had been seated.
Later that day, the prosecutor continued, Fricks waited for his son to return home after getting fast food. When the junior Fricks offered a "smart" comment upon his arrival at the house, the elder Fricks allegedly opened fire.
"[Fricks] stated that he was prepared to shoot [his son] in the back, and that was his plan," prosecutors said. "He stated [his son] made the smart remark and turned to him. [Fricks] just started shooting him until nothing else came out of the handgun. After the shooting, [his son] was still alive."
The two then allegedly had what was described as a "father-son" conversation for about 20 minutes. Fricks Jr. then grabbed his father by the arm — and that's when Fricks Sr. allegedly stabbed him several times.
Fricks cried in court as the judge ordered him held on $60,000 bail. He was released from police custody after posting bond.
Fricks Sr. potentially faces life in prison if convicted of the crime.
