The Christmas Eve Shooting

On December 22, 1985, the Defendant admitted his critically ill father to Moore Memorial Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina. His father was suffering from severe heart disease, hypertension, a thoracic aneurysm, pulmonary emboli, and a peptic ulcer. By December 23, his condition was determined to be terminal; he was classified "No Code" — no extraordinary measures — and moved to a comfort room. On December 24, John visited the hospital. No family members were present. When a nurse's aide tried to tend to his father, John told her, "There is no need in doing that. He's dying." The nurse tried to comfort him, saying his father was not as sick as he thought. John replied, "Go to hell. I've been taking care of him for years. I'll take care of him." Left alone with his father, John began to cry and tell him how much he loved him. His father coughed, emitting a gurgling, rattling sound. John pulled a loaded .22-caliber single-action revolver from his pants pocket, placed it to his father's temple, and fired four times. He walked into the corridor and dropped the gun to the floor.