A Dover man was justified when he shot and killed his son in December, authorities ruled Friday. John Davis, 76, shot his son, Brenton Davis, 55, on Dec. 10 at the elder Davis' home in Dover. Officials from the Attorney General's Office said Brenton Davis shot his father several times before his father armed himself with a shotgun and shot his son. After the shooting, John Davis picked up a cordless phone, went outside and called 911. Investigators said Brenton Davis had a history of mental problems, and several drugs, including methadone, were found in his system after the shooting. John Davis told police that he noticed that his handgun was missing from under his bed on the morning of the shooting, and he asked his son if he took it, but Brenton Davis said he hadn't. After John Davis went back into his bedroom to get dressed, his son came in armed with the revolver and fired at him, hitting him five times and saying, "Die, you bastard." Brenton Davis then went back into the other room. His father armed himself with a shotgun and went into the adjacent room, where Brenton Davis was sitting. John Davis fired a single shot and then fled the home. Brenton Davis died of a single gunshot wound to his face that entered his neck. His father was wounded in the face, wrist, leg, thigh and abdomen, but he survived. Investigators determined that John Davis had reason to fear for his life, and his use of force wasn't excessive. Officials said they couldn't determine precisely what led to Brenton Davis shooting his father, but they said other witnesses corroborated the fact that he suffered from depression and suicidal behavior.

A Dover man was justified when he shot and killed his son in December, authorities ruled Friday.




John Davis, 76, shot his son, Brenton Davis, 55, on Dec. 10 at the elder Davis' home in Dover. Officials from the Attorney General's Office said Brenton Davis shot his father several times before his father armed himself with a shotgun and shot his son.

After the shooting, John Davis picked up a cordless phone, went outside and called 911.

Investigators said Brenton Davis had a history of mental problems, and several drugs, including methadone, were found in his system after the shooting.

John Davis told police that he noticed that his handgun was missing from under his bed on the morning of the shooting, and he asked his son if he took it, but Brenton Davis said he hadn't. After John Davis went back into his bedroom to get dressed, his son came in armed with the revolver and fired at him, hitting him five times and saying, "Die, you bastard."

Brenton Davis then went back into the other room. His father armed himself with a shotgun and went into the adjacent room, where Brenton Davis was sitting. John Davis fired a single shot and then fled the home.

Brenton Davis died of a single gunshot wound to his face that entered his neck. His father was wounded in the face, wrist, leg, thigh and abdomen, but he survived.

Investigators determined that John Davis had reason to fear for his life, and his use of force wasn't excessive.

Officials said they couldn't determine precisely what led to Brenton Davis shooting his father, but they said other witnesses corroborated the fact that he suffered from depression and suicidal behavior.