19-Year-Old Shoots And Kills Mom After Being Told Not To Smoke In House

The 19-year-old Florida man who allegedly shot and killed his mother because she told him to stop smoking cigars in his bedroom has been charged with second-degree murder, among other counts.

The Polk County man, Seth Settle, fled the scene and later admitted to police that he had shot his mother. He claimed he was depressed and was holding a gun to his head when his mother entered his bedroom, WTVT, a Fox affiliate out of Tampa Bay, reported.

Settle claimed the gun went off by accident when he lowered it, but Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said they believe the man shot his 52-year-old mother because he was angry.

“The only people that are more shocked and stunned by this in law enforcement are the immediate family. No one could see this coming,” Judd said during a news conference about the crime.

“He fled past her — didn’t help, didn’t call 911. I can’t begin to tell you the horror of this event,” Judd added.

The sheriff said during the news conference that Settle’s mother had dropped their 14-year-old daughter off at school when she returned to the smell of smoke from his bedroom and opened the door.

Judd said that the woman had said, “I’ve told you before about smoking in this house. Now quit smoking in the house.” She then closed the bedroom door when Settle shot her through it, according to Judd.

The sheriff said everything points to Settle’s mother being “the most wonderful mom in the world.” The family was also characterized as nice and hard-working, according to neighbors.

Settle’s 24-year-old brother found his mother collapsed in their Lake Wales home, where initially no foul play was suspected because there wasn’t any obvious blood or obvious injuries to the body.

A nurse later found puncture wounds after inspecting the body. Judd said that the victim’s heart had stopped immediately after being shot, preventing blood flow.

Settle has been charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, five counts of providing false information to law enforcement, and discharging a firearm on a residential property, according to WVTV.