A 65-year-old man arrested in a deadly shooting reportedly told investigators that he unintentionally squeezed the trigger of his firearm when he was struck in the face early Saturday morning, according to court documents.
Robert Kinney, who has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since his Saturday arrest, faces a count of murder in the shooting death of 37-year-old Stephon Jones.
His charge stems from a Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit investigation that began after patrol officers responded to a 2 a.m. report about a shooting at Kinney’s home in the 2900 block of East Auburn Street.
Responding officers found Jones suffering from a gunshot wound. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS, according to a police news release.
An initial investigation indicated Jones arrived outside Kinney’s home where the two argued, the release states. The argument escalated into a fight during which Kinney reportedly shot Jones, according to the release, which did not disclose what the two fought about.
Investigators spoke to multiple witnesses at the scene and learned the Kinney fired a gun in his fenced-in front yard and on the street in front of his home.
One of the witnesses said they saw Kinney shoot Jones, the affidavit states.
Meanwhile, Kinney was taken to the Metro Unit’s office where he reportedly agreed to speak with detectives.
Kinney reportedly told them his wife woke him up before the shooting, telling him that someone was bringing their son home.
He said he stepped out of his house to meet them and saw multiple vehicles arrive. He said he heard someone from one of the vehicles say something to him that caused him concern and he went back to his house to retrieve his firearm, the affidavit states.
He reportedly said he returned to the front yard, fired a warning shot in the air and approached one of the vehicles where he saw his son was lying in the back seat.
While trying to wake his son, Kinney reportedly said Jones approached him and struck him in the face.
Kinney reportedly told investigators the blow sent him back and the gun in his hand “went off,” though he admits to squeezing the trigger, the affidavit states.
Kinney reportedly said he didn’t know what Jones, who was unarmed, was doing and didn’t intend to fight him, the affidavit states.
Kinney said he went back to his home and told his wife to call 911 and he placed his gun on a table and waited, the affidavit states.
He remains held at the jail. His bond is set at $250,000.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Records show Lubbock man facing murder charge says shooting unintentional
Reporting by Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | USA TODAY Network
