http://www.latimes.com/local/crime/la-me-0403-gay-son-killed-20160403-story.html
Homophobia, drugs and mental illness may have led to gay man's killing and father's arres
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New details emerged Saturday about a strange series of events last week that left Shehada Issa in jail and his wife and son dead. Information from law enforcement agencies and interviews with neighbors suggested that a long-brewing mix of drugs, mental illness, homophobia and extreme family dysfunction had finally led to a tragic result.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced Friday that Issa, 69, was being charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of his 29-year-old son, Amir Issa, who was found dead Tuesday morning outside the family's home on Rayen Street. Found inside the house was Shehada's wife and Amir's mother, Rabihah Issa, 68. She had been stabbed, police said, and may have been dead for some time before her body was discovered.
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New details emerged Saturday about a strange series of events last week that left Shehada Issa in jail and his wife and son dead. Information from law enforcement agencies and interviews with neighbors suggested that a long-brewing mix of drugs, mental illness, homophobia and extreme family dysfunction had finally led to a tragic result.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced Friday that Issa, 69, was being charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of his 29-year-old son, Amir Issa, who was found dead Tuesday morning outside the family's home on Rayen Street. Found inside the house was Shehada's wife and Amir's mother, Rabihah Issa, 68. She had been stabbed, police said, and may have been dead for some time before her body was discovered.
Shehada Issa has not been charged in his wife's death. Police said he admitted to shooting his son with a shotgun. Amir Issa, who had gunshot wounds to the face and abdomen, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The district attorney's office alleged in a statement that Issa killed his son because of his "sexual orientation," a move that brought national publicity to the case over the weekend. Issa could face stiffer penalties at trial if the shooting is prosecuted as a hate crime.
There were a number of signs that Amir Issa's killing was not a simple story of a father acting out of murderous rage that his son was gay.
Turmoil appears to have reigned behind closed doors at the Issa home since Amir moved back in with his parents, which neighbors said occurred within the last two years. LAPD Sgt. Greg Bruce said officers had been called to the home to help evict Amir, whose parents were attempting to sell the house against their son's wishes. The son had even vandalized the house, according to police.
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Joel Munoz, 38, has lived across the street from the Issas for 15 years. Speaking through the bars of his driveway gate Saturday, Munoz said he had recently done handiwork for Shehada Issa, who complained to him about what he described as his son's problems with drugs and mental illness.
"He was a good guy. The son was a bad guy," Munoz said. "I'm so sorry for the old man."
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Francisco Gonzalez Jr., whose parents live next door to Shehada Issa, said he had been aware for some time that feelings ran high between Issa and his son. Gonzalez's parents, who do not speak fluent English, could hear the father and son next door shouting at each other but didn't understand what was being said. Gonzalez said he saw Shehada Issa several months ago standing out by his fence and asked him what was going on.
"It's just my son acting crazy again," Issa told him. "It's the drugs. I called the cops, so I'm just waiting for them."
On Tuesday, Gonzalez said, he was babysitting his niece at his parents' house when he heard shots from next door. Running outside, he found Shehada Issa in the frontyard with a cellphone to his ear. Gonzalez thought he heard the voice of a 911 operator on the line.
"Were those bullets?" Gonzalez asked. "Are you OK, Joe?"
Gonzalez said Issa waved reassuringly, then answered:
"Everything is fine now."