‘I’m Going To Put A Stop To This Now’: New Records Detail The Moments Leading Up To Father Allegedly Shooting Son

A man is accused of shooting his son four times. Court records show what led up to that moment.

Tuesday, August 22nd 2023, 10:33 pm

By: Sylvia Corkill

New records show the moments that led up to the arrest of a Garvin County man who may have shot his son.

David Towler, 65, has been arrested on charges of shooting with intent to kill, aggravated assault and battery with a deadly weapon and first-degree burglary.

According to court filings the men had a rocky relationship. Saturday, investigators said the strained father son relationship came to a head at a trailer home in Lindsay.

“When OSBI got to the scene they were told there was an adult male who was found shot in the home,” said OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee.

According to investigators the victim, James Towler had been shot four times, once in the head.

“He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition,” said McKee.

James’ father, David, was at the scene when investigators with Garvin County Sheriff’s Office and OSBI arrived.

“In talking to David Towler, they were able to piece together that Towler had driven to the victim’s home where he was shot,” said McKee.

According to reports David was armed with a gun when he showed up at his son’s home and began shooting through a front door.

Just 24 hours before the shooting, court filings show deputies issued James a trespassing warning after he showed up at his father’s property, attempted to enter, and appeared to be “under the influence of methamphetamine.”

James’ stepmother told investigators he had left a hatchet on their porch.

The following day reports showed David Towler, his wife, and brother returned home from dinner to find the electricity disconnected to their home and their tractor was missing. They later told investigators “They immediately thought James was going to assault them in the dark.”

According to investigators David told his wife to get his pistol saying, “I’m going to put a stop to this now.”

James Towler, a convicted felon, remains hospitalized.

In 2021 his father petitioned for a protective order against him claiming his son was a drug addict, who repeatedly stole vehicles and other items from his property, and threatened his family.