In a tragic and shocking incident, 72-year-old Jack McNew was arrested in Kentucky after confessing to fatally shooting his adult son, Jackie McNew. The chilling motive? McNew claimed he killed his son after waking up to find his car tires slashed. He told police that he wanted to “put him out of his misery.”
According to a statement from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the grim events unfolded on the morning of September 9. McNew discovered all four of his car’s tires had been deflated, which reportedly enraged him. He then walked to the outbuilding where his son was staying. When Jackie opened the door, McNew shot him, and as the police report detailed, he fired several more shots to “make sure he was dead”, told The Mirror.
Upon the arrival of law enforcement, McNew immediately admitted to shooting his son. “He got upset and went to the outbuilding where the victim was staying. When the victim opened the door, the above shot the victim with a handgun,” the police citation stated. McNew told officers he “didn’t want anyone to see his son acting like this,” suggesting that he believed his son’s behavior warranted the deadly act.
After the shooting, McNew called 911 to report the incident but did not offer any aid to his son. The police citation noted that McNew “knew in his heart that the victim was dead,” which was why he didn’t attempt to help. Investigators found multiple shell casings both inside and outside the outbuilding.
The son, Jackie McNew, was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. McNew was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder and burglary. He is currently being held at the Pulaski County Detention Center.
This tragic family dispute has left the local community in shock. The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the incident, trying to understand the full context behind the fatal confrontation.
As the case unfolds, it serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly seemingly minor disputes can escalate into devastating violence, leaving behind a trail of grief and unanswered questions.