Crime & Safety

Michigan Dad Accused of Trying to Kill Son for Telling Mom About Affair

Father allegedly choked, wrestled and fired five bullets at his son.

An Oakland County man was arraigned  in last week on charges that he attempted to shoot and kill his son for telling his mother about his father’s affair.

James Bell, 54,is charged with assault with intent to murder, felonious assault and domestic violence, the Detroit Free Press reports. Bell, who was arraigned Thursday in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills, was released on $25,000 bond and must wear an electronic monitoring device.

Bell allegedly choked his 20-year-old son and wrestled him to the ground on Feb. 20 after confronting him about telling his wife, the son’s mother, about the affair. The younger man reportedly broke free and ran, and Bell is accused of pulling a handgun from his pocket and firing the .22 caliber weapon at his son five times.

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The younger man was not hit and hid between houses before seeking shelter at a neighbor’s home. The alleged crime wasn’t reported to Oakland County Sheriff’s Office officials until last week “due to the intense family situation this incident has caused,” according to the report.

Bell’s next court appearance is March 6.

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