Share and Follow
In a tragic turn of events, a man from Arkansas has been formally charged with the murder of his stepson following a deadly shooting incident. The sobering details of this case have emerged from Logan County, where 68-year-old John E. Rich III stands accused of fatally shooting 38-year-old Richard Lease.
According to reports, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office responded to an urgent call on January 7, alerting them to a shooting at the residence shared by Rich and Lease. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Lease’s lifeless body in one of the bedrooms, as reported by the Texarkana Gazette. Although the identity of the 911 caller remains undisclosed, Lease’s obituary poignantly notes that he passed away “by his Mother’s side.”
The events leading to this tragic outcome were detailed in an affidavit filed by the Arkansas State Police on February 3. It describes how an argument between the two men escalated from verbal sparring to physical confrontation. The affidavit reveals that Lease retreated to his room after the altercation. However, Rich, in a fit of anger, armed himself with an AR-style rifle, forced open the door to Lease’s room, and opened fire.
During the investigation, Rich reportedly expressed his frustration, citing his desire to remove Lease from the home due to repeated thefts of tools and money. This underlying tension, as documented, appears to have been a significant factor leading to the tragic shooting.
Rich reportedly told investigation he “just want[ed] him out” because he was tired of Rich “stealing tools and money,” the document said.
Rich is being held on a $1 million bond, jail records show. He was formally charged on February 18 and is due in court for arraignment on Friday.