A man from Arkansas has been officially charged with murder following the shooting death of his stepson last month.
According to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were alerted to a residence shared by 68-year-old John E. Rich III and 38-year-old Richard Lease on January 7, responding to a reported shooting incident, as detailed by the Texarkana Gazette. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered Lease deceased in one of the bedrooms.
While the police have not disclosed who made the 911 call, an obituary for Lease mentions that he passed away “by his Mother’s side.”
An affidavit filed by the Arkansas State Police on February 3 reveals that the two men engaged in a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation, as reported by the Gazette. The affidavit states that after the argument, Lease retreated to his room, at which point Rich allegedly retrieved an AR-style rifle, forcibly entered Lease’s room, and began shooting.
Rich reportedly confessed to investigators that he “just want[ed] him out,” expressing frustration over Lease “stealing tools and money,” according to the affidavit.
Currently, Rich is being detained on a $1 million bond, according to jail records. He was officially charged on February 18 and is scheduled for an arraignment in court on Friday.
