Larry Hawkins: Texas father charged for shooting son dead during altercation over money

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS: A Texas man has been charged for shooting his son dead, allegedly because the son owed him money. Larry Lamont Hawkins, 53, is charged with murder, a first-degree felony.

When Killeen police arrived on the scene on March 23, they discovered that Deante Hawkins, the son of 53-year-old Hawkins, was shot and a woman was holding towels to his chest.

The female said she was Deante's girlfriend and they were visiting Hawkin's house when the altercation took place.

Larry Hawkins held on a $150,000 bond

An affidavit states that Deante went downstairs as soon as his father got home, and the woman recorded the incident from upstairs, KWTX reported.

According to the affidavit, the father and his 26-year-old son argued about money that the son owed the father.

The woman claimed that during the argument, she heard one gunshot and then, shortly after, another one. Her boyfriend was bleeding from a gunshot wound to his chest when she ran downstairs, she told the police.

According to the police, Hawkins told them he shot his son in self-defense after the latter attacked him; they discovered the weapon at the scene.

Despite not exhibiting any indications of a physical altercation, he was taken into custody by the police.

According to the Killeen Daily Herald, Hawkins was being held in the Bell County Jail on a $150,000 bond; however, a hearing on a defense motion to reduce the bond has been scheduled for April 9.

Florida father fatally shoots son

Highlands County, Florida, has reported a tragic shooting incident involving a father who struggled to care for his son. The son, Noah Ryan Presley Landon, was taken to the hospital where the father shot him before turning the gun on himself.

The father, 67-year-old Joe E Landon, was having difficulties with his son, who was being somewhat combative.

After the son was placed in an emergency mental health room, the father attempted to get others out of the room by pulling out a gun and shooting into a wall. Both men died on the scene, with no other injuries.

The father's friend, Ben Tucciarone, advised reaching out to the state and seeking help in such a situation.

AdventHealth Sebring has confirmed that no team members were injured in the emergency room incident, and is providing confidential mental health resources and chaplains to support the family.

The hospital is also supporting the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and resuming normal operations.