JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 21-year-old man accused of shooting and killing his parents Tuesday night made his first appearance before a judge Wednesday afternoon.
Charles Fritzner III is charged with two counts of murder after Jacksonville police said he shot his mother and father in their Lake Shore home in the 4500 block of Colonial Avenue.
Rescuers said they found the victims, Charles Fritzner Jr. (seen below), 52, and his wife, Ltanya, 42, conscious and crying, and both died at a hospital.
At a news conference Wednesday, police said the younger Fritzner's parents told him earlier in the day he needed to permanently move out of the house.
"He had been staying on and off with his parents," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Chief Tom Hackney said. "He had been told earlier in the day, he was told to move his stuff out of the house apparently over ongoing disputes over several years."
Police said Fritzner left, and his mom and sister, 20-year-old Diana Fritzner, went for a walk around the neighborhood shortly before the shooting. Police said the mom and sister saw Fritzner hanging around in the neighborhood after his dad had told him to move out.
"They told him if he didn't move his stuff out, they were going to place his stuff on the curb," Hackney said. "He left the house earlier in the day willingly."
Fritzner's mom and sister went back home, and his sister was about to get into the shower when she heard gunshots and glass breaking and went out in the living room and saw her mom and dad shot, police said.
"She initially thought her father, who she found first, had fallen and broke something on the glass," Hackney said.
Her mom said her son shot them, according to police. Diana Fritzner called 911 about 8:30 p.m, police said.
Police said they found Charles Fritzner a few minutes later about a mile away, and they said he gave a false name and denied the killings.
Police said both parents had been battered in the past by both their son and daughter. Records show the family had a long history of domestic violence issues, including police being called to the home 20 times in the last two years.
In 2010, Fritzner was arrested after police said he punched his dad after he was told to find a job and quit drinking.
Fritzner's dad was arrested in 2008 on a domestic abuse charge against his wife, and records show he was arrested on a battery charge last year after a neighbor called to report he was hitting her daughter with a belt in the front yard.
One neighbor told Channel 4's Erica Rakow that he heard four gunshots about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and went out to see a man running down the street.
Neighbors said they had seen police at the house in recent weeks.
"Almost like all families, they'd have arguments," neighbor Larry Morrison said. "Mainly when they were outside. When they were inside, you didn't hear nothing out of the house."
Channel 4 crime analyst Ken Jefferson said although police and neighbors knew of ongoing problems, it's difficult to stop it from happening.
"It's very, very hard to prevent a domestic violence incident because it's in the closed confines of your own home," Jefferson said. "No one's there but really the participants that are involved in the domestic violence."
Homicide detectives and evidence technicians were still investigating at the home on Wednesday morning.
Fritzner is being held at the Duval County jail without bail. He's due back in court May 23 at 9 a.m. for arraignment.