An Alabama teen is behind bars after police say a weekend spat turned violent after the boy shot his father and brother.
Tribune Media reports that 16-year-old Jeffrey Wanca is charged with the murder of his father, 43-year-old Chad Wanca, and the attempted murder of his young brother, Hunter, 12. Hunter is listed in critical condition at Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham.
Although police have not officially confirmed why the boy allegedly shot his father and brother, his grandfather, Rick McNamara, told WAFF 8 that it happened after he was asked to clean up his room.
“It was a domestic dispute between father and son about cleaning things up and trying to be a responsible teenage figure,” Rick McNamara said. “It’s your typical teenager not wanting to do the things that are necessary to help. It escalated.”
Police responded to the family’s Madison County home on Saturday afternoon after receiving numerous calls about a domestic violence incident. When they arrived, they found Jeffrey outside of the home, who walked toward the officers with his hands raised. After questioning him, the officers arrested the boy.
Neighbors indicated that Chad Wanca was a single father and that the family had domestic issues in the past, but nothing more than what other families go through. Neighbor Forrques Pride told ABC 31 that both Jeffrey and his brother played with his daughters and never gave him any problems.
“Well-mannered, they would come out and play with my daughters sometimes. Never had an issue. I thought he [Chad Wanka] was doing a great job with the kids,” Pride said.
Meanwhile, Rick McNamara and his wife, Linda, said Hunter was alert and making progress.
Check back for further details.
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[Feature Photo: Chad and Jeffrey Wanka/Facebook]
