Retired N.Y. Cop Fatally Shot By His Son Days After Reporting Him Missing: Police

A retired New York detective and volunteer firefighter was allegedly shot and killed by his son during a dispute on Wednesday, March 19. The father had reported his son missing two days prior.

Christopher Miller, 43, allegedly shot his father, 75-year-old John Miller, several times with a shotgun inside their Dix Hills, N.Y., home, News 12, Fox 5 NY and PIX 11 reported, citing police.

Things unfolded after Christopher was involved in a car crash on Monday, March 17. He allegedly got into a physical altercation with the driver of the other vehicle and ended up in the hospital. John was unable to reach him and reported him missing, said police, according to PIX 11.

Officers found Christopher at the hospital, and John picked him up when he was discharged, the outlet reported.

Once at home, the father and son got into an argument and Christopher allegedly grabbed a shotgun, per News 12. (Christopher recently moved back into the home, where he grew up, following a divorce, Fox 5 reported. He and John lived there alone.)

“Christopher went into his room, got a shotgun, and came downstairs,” Suffolk Police Homicide Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer told News 12. “An argument ensued between him and his father, John, and Christopher shot him multiple times.”

Beyrer noted that John had tried to take the weapon from Christopher before was shot.

After allegedly shooting his father, Christopher fled to the shed of another home.

“He walked past the homeowner and wouldn’t respond to her questions about what he was doing,” Beyer said, adding that the homeowner saw someone walk into a shed.

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The same officer who investigated John’s missing person report this week responded to a call about a disturbance in the shed. When the officer arrived, he recognized Christopher and took him home. That’s when John’s body was found, per PIX 11.

Christopher was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, according to News 12. He will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip, N.Y., at a later date. He was transported to a hospital for treatment for the injuries he sustained in the car accident.

Miller, a member of the Wyandanch Volunteer Fire Company for 57 years, was mourned by his fellow firefighters. Chief Jarvis Brown told News 12 that John was a four-time former chief and two-time former president.

“We lost a leader, we lost a friend, and a father figure. We lost someone who was really important to the Wyandanch Volunteer Fire Company,” said Brown.

Suffolk Legislator Tom Donnelly remembered John for his public service, saying, “That will be his lasting gift is how much he looked after others. He was an inspirational human being.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Suffolk County Police Department and Wyandanch Volunteer Fire Company.