Son Allegedly Beats Father To Death Following Argument Over Television Set

A man in Florida allegedly killed his father when an argument over a television set led to a physical altercation between the two.

The incident took place at 32-year-old Mario Tarabillo-Justiniano's Urbana Drive residence in Orange County on Nov. 28. Tarabillo-Justiniano told police that he wanted to buy a new television set but his 59-year-old father, Mario Tarabillo, wanted to give him an older one. They then began arguing and it soon turned physical, according to CBS affiliate News 6 WKMG.

Tarabillo-Justiniano said his father then called him an expletive before trying to walk past him, according to the arrest affidavit. When he refused to allow his father to pass, the parent punched him in the face, Tarabillo-Justiniano told investigators.

The son then reportedly attacked his father and punched him three or four times, Orange County Sheriff’s Office detective Kevin O’Malley wrote in the affidavit, according to Orlando Sentinel. When the son realized his father was unconscious, he said he performed chest compressions.

However, while speaking to detectives, Tarabillo-Justiniano reportedly changed certain details about his version of the incident. In the beginning, he had said he performed chest compressions for 15 minutes, but later mentioned it was for about half an hour.

He also called 911 multiple times and said he didn’t know whether his father was alive or dead. Deputies arrived at Tarabillo-Justiniano’s apartment and found his father lying on the floor. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The arrest affidavit said Tarabillo-Justiniano was found to have injuries on his knuckles and had faint bruising under his right eye. The son also told O’Malley he attacked his father in self-defense. However, O’Malley wrote in the affidavit that the injuries Tarabillo suffered before his death were “gruesome.”

Tarabillo had received a kidney transplant about two years prior to the incident, and his health was reportedly weak due to an infection. He was scheduled to undergo another surgery in the next 30 days.

Tarabillo-Justiniano is now facing a charge of second-degree murder and is being held in the Orange County Jail without bond.