More details were released last week regarding a shooting just north of Airway Heights on the 4000 block of North Garfield Road the morning of Sunday, Jan. 13.
Mark Cavazos, 53, called police around 4:23 a.m. Jan. 13 reporting a homicide and that he allegedly shot his son, James Cavazos, 31, in the head, according to court documents. Mark Cavazos was charged with second-degree murder – domestic violence - and was held on a $100,000 bond.
Misty Beaumont, James’ girlfriend, said the father and son had been drinking earlier in the evening when they began to argue about, “father-son stuff, dumb stuff, drunk stuff.” Beaumont left soon after and went to a nearby hillside to go sledding, but later returned.
Cavazos said the argument moved inside to the home’s kitchen, where he eventually told his son to leave.
“Mark said that for some reason or another he got his gun, went back in and told James to settle down,” court documents read.
Cavazos said he pointed the gun at his son, never intending to pull the trigger, but it just went off.
“As (Beaumont) left the home she heard a single gunshot,” court documents read.
Beaumont ran to a neighbor’s house to get help. Another neighbor arrived at the house and spoke with the 911 operator over the phone. Officers arrived at the house and transported Cavazos to an interview room.
“Before he could be asked any questions Mark made the unsolicited statement, ‘I don’t know if I should have a lawyer here or not, all I know is that it was an accident, it wasn’t meant to happen,’” according to court documents.
Cavazos went on to say he wanted to do the right thing and that he would have to live with this for the rest of his life.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office reported at least one gunshot wound to James’ face.
“‘Mark would not do anything on purpose,’” Beaumont said in the court report.
Cavazos appeared at an arraignment Tuesday, Jan. 22. Details were not available at press time.
James Eik can be reached at james@cheneyfreepress.com.
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