A 61-year-old father in Kentucky was arrested this week after he allegedly admitted to shooting his own son because the younger man would not “hush” as his father had ordered him to do.
Timothy L. Rivers, of Johnson County, was taken into custody on Friday and charged with one count of attempted murder over the alleged domestic violence-related shooting, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Rivers is also facing charges of first-degree wanton endangerment, cultivating five or more marijuana plants, contempt of court, and nonpayment of court fees or fines, online records for the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center show.
The latter two charges are from an unrelated 2022 court case, though details regarding the case were unclear as of Wednesday afternoon. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a message from Law&Crime seeking additional details on the previous matter.
Timothy L. Rivers mug shot (Big Sandy Regional Detention Center)
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Lexington Fox affiliate WDKY provided additional context about the arrest and the incriminating admissions Rivers allegedly uttered to investigators.
According to the report, deputies with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Dec. 1 responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence located somewhere along Route 1559 in Sitka, Kentucky. Sitka is about 115 miles east of Lexington.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders reportedly said that they found the backdoor of the home was open. Peering through a window, deputies said they could see the 61-year-old man sitting in an armchair with a rifle placed in front of him. The firearm was later identified as a Winchester .20-20 lever-action rifle, Hazard, Kentucky CBS affiliate WYMT reported.
He was reportedly smoking a pipe, which authorities later said contained marijuana.
Authorities announced their presence and instructed Rivers to keep his hands empty and above his head, the report states. Sheriff’s deputies said they also found at least six additional marijuana plants in a different room of the home.
The victim, whose name and age were not revealed by authorities, was reportedly transported to a hospital before law enforcement arrived at the scene.
In a recorded interview with investigators, Rivers allegedly said that he and his son were in the home together when the younger man burst into the backroom of the home where Rivers was sitting and began loudly yelling.
According to a report from Lexington CBS and CW affiliate WKYT, Rivers explained to deputies that he told his son to “hush, or he would hurt him.” When, according to Rivers, the victim continued yelling, Rivers told the deputies that he “shot the hell out of him.”
Rivers was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. He is currently being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Rivers appeared for his preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
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