A Florida man is in jail today after being treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound he received while attacking his own father with a sword on Sunday.
William McClanahan-Spenler, 21, of Santa Rosa County is facing charges of aggravated assault with a weapon after he threatened to kill his father with an antique sword, Pensacola News Journal reports. Fifty-year-old Robert Spenler, the man's father, reportedly described him as suffering from both substance addiction and mental health issues. William had been living in the home near Pensacola, Florida on a sporadic basis before the alleged attack.
The father told police that he woke up Sunday morning to find his son in the home. The two then had a verbal altercation. The father went on to say that around noon his son came to his bedroom, brandished the sword, and threatened to kill him.
At that point, the father grabbed a shotgun. He then shot at his son. He told police he only intended to injure his son by "winging" him with the shot.
The son was hit in his right shoulder, dropped his sword, and ran from the house. He was later taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Police determined that the son was the main aggressor in the altercation and the father was merely defending himself. The son was arrested after being released from the hospital. He is now being held without bail at Santa Rosa County Jail.
There was no report on whether or not the father sustained any injuries.