Joshua Nareau: Florida man charged with murder in grandfather’s fatal shooting paid glowing tribute to him at funeral

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FLORIDA: After his grandfather was shot and killed on December 28, 2023 in front of his Port Charlotte, Florida, home, Joshua Nareau paid a glowing tribute to him when in fact, Joshua was the one who had killed him.

Nareau, 23, was taken into custody by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, February 15. He is accused of killing his grandfather James Khoury.

That day, shortly after 5 in the morning, Lynda Khoury, the 71-year-old's wife, called 911 to report her husband's shooting.

James Khoury died from gunshot wound to his chest

When deputies got there, they found James Khoury lying with his lunchbox beside him, his own gun holstered at his hip, and a gunshot wound to his chest. Paramedics declared him dead.

According to Law&Crime, the deputies discovered Nareau sitting in the house's yard. In a probable cause affidavit, he claimed to have hurried over from his own house nearby after his grandmother's call.

Linda Khoury confirmed that she had a conversation with her grandson. She said her husband was heading out the door for work, and she sent him off with a kiss. She reported to deputies that a short while after James Khoury walked out, she heard a gunshot and her husband call out to her.

She "knew he was dead" when she saw that he had been shot in the chest. She ran back inside the house and dialed 911. She said she called her grandson Nareau after the shooting.

Nareau told deputies he had been asleep in bed when his grandmother had called him up.

Investigators examined Nareau's phone records and found that he had received a call from his grandmother. However, the affidavit states that the phone data also showed he had walked for a few hundred yards at the time of the shooting, which is approximately the distance to and from his grandparents' house.

Joshua Nareau arrested for second-degree murder

Additionally, deputies discovered a projectile in a tree on the property. Lab results last week verified that the bullet was fired from Nareau's rifle.

 “I am glad to finally be able to bring an update to you on this terrible incident," Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said in a statement, Crime Online reported.

"As you can see, even though we were not able to share much with you, my detectives and forensics team did a great job and we had a direction for the investigation and ultimately got the person responsible.”

“This does not make it any easier for the family of the victim, who now have even more grief to cope with, but I hope it brings peace of mind to the community once more. Please pray for Mr Khoury’s family as they navigate this unthinkable situation.”

The motive for the murder was not disclosed by the police. Nareau described Khoury as a father figure to him at the funeral.

"He helped raise me. He made me the person I am today,” he said. “You are all here because you knew and loved my grandfather and I thank you so much for that."

"My goal in life is to be as good as this man was. He helped everyone in this room in some way and I know that.”

Nareau, who is being held in the Charlotte County Jail without bond on a charge of second-degree murder, is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, February 21.