Man Allegedly Mistakes Son for Intruder, Fatally Shoots Him

Man Allegedly Mistakes Son for Intruder, Fatally Shoots Him
(Prath/shutterstock)
Jack Phillips
7/4/2017
Updated:
7/4/2017

A Colorado father shot and killed his son after he allegedly mistook him for an intruder, reports say.

Frank Huner Jr., 58, called 911 at around 10 p.m. on July 1, saying he shot an intruder in his home, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Huner then said the victim was his son, Nick. The coroner’s office later confirmed it was his 33-year-old son, The Denver Channel reported.

“RP [Reporting party] is saying he shot someone who came into his house,” the 911 dispatcher said, WTOL reported. “Now [he’s] saying it’s his son, and he’s dead.”

According to WTOL, he told the dispatcher that his son had been shot six times.

Huner was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, according to reports. He posted a $50,000 bond and was released from jail.

Colorado police told The Associated Press that a second-degree murder charge against Huner doesn’t mean they doubt his story.

Frank Huner (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)
Frank Huner (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

The charges against Huner could change as the investigation proceeds, police said.

Nick Huner had a long criminal history in Colorado and had an outstanding warrant in Arapahoe County for failing to appear in court prior to his death.

A newspaper in Utah reported that he was involved in a police chase earlier in 2017.

It’s not clear if the elder Huner entered a plea or has a lawyer.

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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