An Florida man is facing an attempted murder charge after authorities say a family disagreement inside his Palm Bay home ended with his son being shot in the face.
According to police reports cited by Florida Today and ClickOrlando, the 84-year-old, identified as William Nowak, was taken into custody on December 9 following a shooting at his residence on Hawksbill Street. Officers were dispatched to the home shortly after 7:30 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting that a man had been shot.
Investigators say the call came from the victim’s wife, who told authorities that a tense conversation escalated during what was supposed to be a routine family visit. Nowak allegedly became upset that his son and daughter-in-law were not visiting often enough, even though the couple reportedly stopped by weekly.
At the time of the incident, Nowak lived with his 85-year-old wife, who was receiving hospice care at home, and their 62-year-old daughter, who has a disability. Police noted that Nowak acted as the primary caregiver for both family members.
According to court documents, the disagreement intensified, and Nowak allegedly warned his son to leave the house, threatening to shoot him if he did not. Investigators say he then walked into his bedroom, retrieved a handgun, and returned through the house.
Police allege that Nowak passed his daughter-in-law and entered the kitchen, where he fired a single shot that struck his son in the face. After the gunshot, the Florida man reportedly went back to his bedroom and returned moments later without the weapon.
Officers responding to the scene described Nowak as distraught and confused in the moments following the shooting. According to the affidavit, he repeatedly asked, “What just happened?” while crying and screaming.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was sedated due to the severity of his injuries. Investigators said the bullet fragmented on impact and became lodged in his face and jaw. Nowak was also transported to a hospital for treatment related to high blood pressure before being booked into custody.
Nowak was subsequently charged with attempted murder and taken to the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes, Florida. During his first court appearance on December 11, a judge appointed him a public defender and ordered that he be held without bond.
