Pierce County man shot and killed his father during argument inside a home, charges say
A Pierce County man has been arrested for allegedly killing his father during an argument inside a Spanaway home Monday.
Prosecutors charged Vendell Edward Henderson, 22, with two counts of second-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, according to court records.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Henderson’s behalf during his Tuesday afternoon arraignment, records show. Pierce County Superior Court Judge pro tempore Jack Nevin set Henderson’s bail at $1.5 million.
Charging details
Pierce County deputies were dispatched at about 4:02 p.m. to a home in the 2200 block of 165th Street East for reports of a shooting. Henderson’s mother reported to 911 that her son shot his father, according to charging documents. His mother said that Henderson drove off in his Toyota Camry.
The victim’s 14-year-old son brought deputies into the home when they arrived. The victim was lying on the floor and had two bullet wounds in his chest. Deputies began to perform CPR, and the 14-year-old boy told them that Henderson shot his father. Fire personnel pronounced the man dead at 4:19 p.m., prosecutors wrote.
Deputies spoke to Henderson over the phone, and he sounded like he was crying. Henderson was at a home on 42nd Avenue Court East. He agreed to come out after deputies went to the home, documents show. He was then taken into custody.
A man who lives in the home where Henderson surrendered spoke to deputies, prosecutors wrote. The man said that Henderson came to his house unannounced, told him he got into an argument with his father and shot him.
At the shooting scene, Henderson’s 14-year-old brother told deputies that Henderson got into an argument with his father because he was having issues with his baby’s mother. Henderson was upset and allegedly screamed about wanting to shoot people, prosecutors wrote.
The 14-year-old said he heard more arguing and then four gunshots. He allegedly saw Henderson drag their father downstairs and asked for help from their mother, prosecutors wrote. Deputies were advised Henderson placed the gun in his bedroom.
Henderson’s mother also told deputies that her son and husband were arguing. This was related to Henderson’s baby’s mother who was holding a party for their son, prosecutors wrote. Henderson’s father told his son to calm down, and that he needed to be there for his own child.
The argument continued and when Henderson went into his room, his mother said that Henderson asked his father to leave him alone. Henderson’s father said they needed to keep having the conversation and they continued to argue. Right before the shooting, she said Henderson asked his father what he would do if he hurt himself. His father then “got in his face” and told him to “stop talking crazy,” prosecutors wrote.
Henderson told his father to “stop getting in his face” because it was making him mad, she said. His mother told detectives the next thing she knew, Henderson allegedly grabbed the handgun and shot his father twice, prosecutors wrote. She said she witnessed the shooting happen while outside the room.
Henderson’s mother also said her son was diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic, prosecutors wrote.
In an interview with detectives, Henderson said he had not slept in three days because of stress and anxiety. He consumed ecstasy and cocaine at a friend’s earlier that morning and went home about 10-11 a.m., prosecutors wrote.
Henderson said the argument with the victim stemmed from his father giving unsolicited parenting advice. He said his father was absent most of his life due to being in and out of prison, prosecutors wrote. Henderson told detectives just six months ago he pointed a gun at his father during an argument and then checked himself into a psychiatric hospital.
Prior to the shooting, Henderson said, his father stood over him, talking about his responsibilities and telling him that he needed to move out of the home, prosecutors wrote. Henderson said they continued to argue for 3 to 5 minutes before he got the gun from under his pillow and allegedly shot his father.
Henderson allegedly said he shot his father in hopes of making him stop. He then attempted to load his father in his car to take him to the hospital but stopped at the front door, prosecutors wrote.
Court documents show Henderson has a prior juvenile felony conviction for third-degree assault and is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
