Florida Man Accused of Murdering Father After Argument Over Job, Rent, and Military Paperwork, Deputies Say
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA — A Florida man is behind bars without bond after deputies say he shot and killed his father during an argument over employment, rent, and military paperwork, then told the victim he loved him after firing the final shot. Authorities say 25-year-old Melquan Stewart is charged with murder after the Monday afternoon killing outside his Port Charlotte residence, located roughly 95 miles south of Tampa.
According to an affidavit of probable cause reviewed by Law&Crime, Stewart told deputies his father, Glenn Stewart, arrived at the home to confront him about getting a job and starting to pay his own rent. Court documents say the victim had been covering the rent for the past four months and wanted his son to provide documentation showing he was working on updating military paperwork.
Suspect Claimed Voices Told Him to Shoot His Father
Investigators said the confrontation escalated when Melquan Stewart retrieved a bag from the rear passenger seat of his father’s Volkswagen Taos. Stewart later told deputies he began hearing voices “telling him to shoot the victim,” something he said he had experienced before but had never acted on.
Deputies say Stewart then opened fire through the rolled-down front passenger window using a Ruger LC9 handgun, striking his father multiple times. As Glenn Stewart attempted to reverse the SUV to escape, his son followed, pulled him from the vehicle, placed him on the driveway, and shot him once more.
After the final shot, Stewart reportedly placed his father’s arms across his chest and told him that he loved him.
Authorities Say the Suspect Attempted to Leave Before Turning Back
Court documents state Stewart got into the SUV afterward, programmed his navigation system for Miami, and started to drive away. However, he later changed his mind and decided to return to the scene.
By that time, deputies were already responding to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire, a person being dragged from a vehicle, and someone lying in a driveway bleeding. When Stewart returned, deputies observed blood on his clothing and detained him as he told them he was “coming to turn himself in” and mentioned the voices he claimed to hear.
Victim Pronounced Dead at the Hospital
Glenn Stewart suffered gunshot wounds primarily on the right side of his body. Responders attempted lifesaving measures before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Deputies say evidence at the scene included blood both inside and outside the SUV, along with a black semiautomatic handgun found in plain view on the front passenger floorboard.
Court Proceedings Now Underway
Following his arrest, Stewart appeared before a judge Monday and is being held without bond. Records show another criminal hearing is scheduled for Thursday as the investigation continues.
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