Alabama teen fatally shoots father, critically injures 12-year-old brother after being told to clean his room
TONEY, ALABAMA: An Alabama teenager has been arrested and charged after he shot and killed his father, and critically injured his younger brother over an argument about cleaning his room.
Chad Wanca, 43, was killed, and his younger son Hunter Wanca, 12, was gravely injured at their home on Barberry Lane in Toney on Saturday, August 24, after his 16-year-old son shot them both, according to WAFF.
Wanca was officially pronounced dead at Huntsville Hospital, while Hunter has been admitted into the intensive care unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital.
Linda and Rick McNamara, Wanca's parents, said that the shooting started after their oldest grandson had been asked to clean his room.
"It was a domestic dispute between father and son about cleaning things up and trying to be a responsible teenage figure," Rick said. "It’s your typical teenager not wanting to do the things that are necessary to help. It escalated."
Speaking about the incident, Forrques Pride, a neighbor, described the terrifying scene that unfolded in their quiet neighborhood to WAYY-TV.
"The sheriffs and ambulance were right behind us, rushing into the neighborhood," he said. "Just seeing a crowd of people outside surrounding the house and the caution tape going up, and a young child outside with his hands up."
He said his daughters used to play with both the Wanca children regularly and that he had never had problems with the family. "Well-mannered, they would come out and play with my daughters sometimes," he revealed. "Never had an issue. I thought he was doing a great job with the kids."
The 16-year-old, whose name has not been released by Madison County investigators because of his juvenile status, has been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection to the killings.
He made his first appearance in court on Monday, August 26, and is currently being held at the Madison County Jail.
Linda told WAFF she was going to the hospital to visit her 12-year-old grandson and hoped that they would let her in to see him at the intensive care unit. She said she was also working to have her son's body brought home to Tennessee to be buried.
"I’d like to go to the jail as well and see my other grandson," she added. "I want to talk to him. I don’t know where his head is at. I love my grandsons. I love them both."
However, authorities did not let her and her husband pay a visit to the 16-year-old, though the reasons for the same are currently unclear. "We hope to," Linda said. "I really would and need to talk to my grandson and let him know that we are there for him."
As for the 12-year-old, family members revealed that he was doing better as of this week and that he was alert and talking.