MORGAN COUNTY, Tenn. — An elderly man died in Morgan County on Thursday after he was fatally shot by his son who pulled the trigger to defend a caretaker, according to the District Attorney General's Office.
Lillard Daniel previously had a brush with the law. In 2012, he was charged with the murder of Calvin Howard after he was accused of shooting Howard over a dispute involving agricultural work he had done on Lillard's farm.
In that trial, a mental evaluation determined that Lillard was incompetent to stand trial and the court removed all guns from his possession.
On Thursday, the now-92-year-old man was arguing with a woman caretaker. His son, Ted Daniel, from Texas, was visiting his home near Lancing. According to a release, Lillard was trying to fire the caretaker and the company she works for.
"I could have blown hard against Lillard and knocked him down," said his friend of three decades William Shillins. "I don't know why anybody needed to shoot him to control him."
According to the release, Lillard had a long knife and Ted was pleading with him to stop threatening her because he had been through other caretakers in the past. He also told his father that it was his last chance to avoid being placed in a nursing home.
However, authorities said Lillard was focused on the caretaker and started moving toward her. They said Ted warned him that he had a gun and told him to put the knife down and stop approaching the caretaker.
His father refused, and Ted shot at him twice with a handgun.
"I don't believe nobody had to kill him. That's the way I feel and I'm really upset about it," Shillins said. "I think it really needs to be investigated to see what went on there."
Authorities said Lillard was hit in the leg and the stomach area. They called 911 and the caretaker was able to record video of Lillard with the knife still in his hand, arguing from his recliner after he fell back after being shot.
Lillard was then taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office is investigating, and it said all the evidence indicated Ted shot his father to defend the caretaker. An autopsy has been ordered for Lillard.
After the autopsy and investigation, a final determination will be made in the case, according to the release.