A domestic argument in Toney, Alabama, ended in fatal violence on a Saturday afternoon when 43-year-old single father Chad Wanca was shot and later died at Huntsville Hospital. His 12-year-old son, Hunter Wanca, was also shot and taken to the Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham in critical condition.

The dispute reportedly began when Chad asked his older son to clean his room and escalated. Deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office arrived after multiple 911 calls and found the suspect, 16-year-old Jeffrey Dale Wanca, outside the home; he approached officers with his hands raised and was taken into custody. Inside the house, Chad and Hunter were found with gunshot wounds.

Jeffrey Dale Wanca was booked into the Madison County Jail and charged as an adult with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, held on a combined $200,000 bond. Family members described Chad as a good father who loved his sons very much.

If anyone knew the family or has information about what led to the escalation, please share what you can.