Police: Man killed father with shotgun during Harmar fight

An East Deer man admitted he shot and killed his father early Wednesday after his dad badmouthed his girlfriend and their baby, police said.

Shane Howard, 23, also told police that he hit his father in the face and head with a fire extinguisher before he shot him with a shotgun, police said.

He went to the Harmar police station around 3:10 a.m. and told the on-duty officer, “I accidentally killed my Dad,” according to a criminal complaint.

Allegheny County Police charged Howard with homicide and tampering with evidence in the death of his father, David Howard, 47, of Harmar.

The shooting occurred in David Howard’s RV trailer in the 700 block of Guys Run Road, police said.

Following Shane Howard’s alleged confession, an officer went to the RV trailer and found David Howard lying face down on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head.

Shane Howard told police that he got into an argument with his girlfriend Tuesday evening and left her sister’s house on foot. Shane Howard was walking along Freeport Road when a police officer gave him a courtesy ride to his dad’s home, according to the complaint.

Shane Howard told police he had lived with his father, but had moved out to live with his girlfriend and their baby, the complaint said.

The complaint said that Shane Howard told police he and his father began fighting after David Howard criticized his son’s girlfriend. At one point, the complaint said, Shane Howard grabbed more beers, and that appeared to calm the situation.

But tempers flared again after Shane Howard called his girlfriend to apologize and his father overheard him on the phone, the complaint said. A fight ensued.

Shane Howard told police that he picked up a shotgun and walked over to his father. He said he thought his father was reaching for a nearby rifle, according to police.

Police noted in the complaint that the RV trailer had an exit that would have allowed the younger Howard to leave without passing his father.

Shane Howard told police that he held the shotgun to the back of his father’s head and the gun went off, the complaint said.

Police said he then called a friend to come to pick him up, and put both the rifle and the shotgun in his friend’s trunk.

Police spoke with Shane Howard’s friend, who told them that he convinced him to turn himself into the police, the complaint said.

The friend said he was unaware the rifle and shotgun had been placed in his trunk.

Neighbor Mike Dzugan was shocked to hear about the homicide.

“As far as I know, there was no animosity between the kids and the father,” Dzugan said Wednesday afternoon.

Dzugan said David Howard lived by himself.

“I don’t even know where (Shane Howard) went. I haven’t seen him in years,” Dzugan said. “He might go over there and see his dad, but I would never see him. It’s really weird.”

Dzugan said David Howard worked for a construction company.

Dzugan said he last saw himon Tuesday.

“He never really bothered anybody,” Dzugan said. “That’s crazy though.”