Lehigh Acres father accused of shooting, killing son

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. A 41-year-old man is accused of shooting and killing his son Monday night, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jonathan Brunelle, of Lehigh Acres, was arrested and faces one count of second-degree murder after an investigation showed he intentionally shot his 20-year-old son, the sheriff’s office said.

Brunelle called deputies at around 7:26 p.m. to his home on the 4600 block of 28th Street Southwest, the sheriff’s office said. He told deputies his son, Shane Brunelle, was “out of control.”

Jonathan waited outside the home and agreed to leave his gun with a neighbor until deputies could arrive, the sheriff’s office said. Shane agreed to stay with a neighbor until his mother could pick him up.

Shane had scratches on his neck, but denied they were from Jonathan, the sheriff’s office said.

At around 8:19 p.m. deputies were called to the home again — this time on reports of a shooting, the sheriff’s office said.

Jonathan told deputies he “accidentally” shot Shane in the stomach, the sheriff’s office said. Shane was unresponsive when deputies arrived and succumbed to his injuries.

“For something like that to happen just down the road like that … all I can ask is why?” nearby resident Isaac Cartagena said.

A judge did not set a bond during Jonathan’s first appearance Wednesday. Brunelle will appear in court July 24.