A Florida man has been accused of gunning down his half-brother on Christmas Day in a “senseless” shooting that apparently stemmed from the brother’s unsuccessful search for his missing cell phone.
Kendall Yarborough, 28, was visiting family in Illinois for the holidays, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said in a statement. On Christmas Day, Yarborough’s half-brother, James Watson, was frustrated while looking for his cell phone on the home’s first floor.
“Family members stated that Watson was intoxicated and was upset that he could not find his cell phone,” court documents say, according to Law&Crime. “His behavior had been described as increasingly obnoxious. Watson slammed a card table against the floor. After the table was slammed, the witnesses reported hearing a second noise which was later determined to be a single gunshot.”
Yarborough, it seems, had shot Watson from the second floor of the house, striking him in the abdomen.
“I think he shot me,” Watson said, according to the documents. A relative reported seeing Yarborough holding the handgun after the shooting.
Family members rendered aid and called 911. Watson was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators found a 9mm Sig Sauer P-365X handgun and one spent shell casing, Berlin said. Yarborough was taken into custody.
“This senseless act of violence will not go unpunished,” Berlin said. “To James’ family and friends, I offer my sincere condolences and wish them strength as they mourn the loss of a family member and come to terms with another family member accused of his murder.”
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[Featured image: Kendall Yarborough/DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office]
