Background: The home in Booneville, Ark., where Richard Lease was shot dead (Google Maps). Inset (left): John E. Rich III (Logan County Sheriff’s Office). Inset (right): Richard Lease (Agent Mallory-Martin Funeral Home).
John E. Rich III, aged 68, faces a first-degree murder charge following the death of his 38-year-old stepson, Richard Lease. The incident occurred on the evening of January 7 at their shared residence in Booneville, Arkansas. According to court documents obtained by Law&Crime, the two men had engaged in a heated argument earlier that day, prompting Lease to retreat to his bedroom.
Subsequently, Rich is accused of retrieving an AK-style rifle, approaching Lease’s room, forcefully opening the door, and firing multiple rounds at him.
The Logan County Sheriff’s Office detailed in a Facebook post that they responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at the residence. Upon arrival, officers discovered Lease had succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Although the identity of the caller remains unknown, Rich was found at the scene alongside the firearm and was taken into custody without resistance.
During police questioning, Rich reportedly expressed his exasperation over Lease’s alleged theft of tools and money, claiming he was simply “tired” of the situation and wanted him out of the house, as stated in the court documents.
When police questioned Rich about the “conflict” he had with his stepson, he told them he was “tired of Richard stealing tools and money” from him, according to court documents. He further said that he was “just wanting him out” of the household.
Police said Rich admitted to barging into his stepson’s bedroom with a loaded rifle and shooting him multiple times.
Rich is currently in custody at the Logan County Detention Center, where he is being held on $1 million bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 6.
