A Los Angeles man was charged with premeditated murder Friday (April 1) in what prosecutors say was a hate crime against his own son. 69-year-old Shehada Issa is accused of shooting Amir Issa to death, for being gay.
Amir, 29, was found dead in the family home in North Hills, Calif. early last week. Shehada had reportedly threatened to kill his gay son in the past.
However, he claims to have shot Amir in self-defense after discovering his wife, Rabihah Issa, stabbed to death in the home. Police found 68-year-old Rabihah’s body along with her son but she may have been dead long before him.
Ongoing tension, homophobia, drug abuse and mental illness, were all factors in the family tragedy, reports the L.A. Times.
Amir had moved back in with his parents over the last couple of years, and according to a neighbor “the son was the bad guy,” and Shehada was “the good guy.”
Shehada previously accused his son of abusing drugs, and prior to the double murders, police had been called to the home to assist in evicting Amir. According to authorities, Amir vandalized the home.
In a Facebook post from last month, Amir vented about his family troubles, and made mention to an arrest incident where he says he was cleared of mental illness.
Shehada will be arraigned for his son’s murder April 11, he has not been charged in the death of his wife.
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Photo: screencap
