Mansion Shooting: Son Was Due in Court
By R. STICKNEY
Updated 6:36 PM PST, Wed, Sep 9, 2009
An elderly millionaire killed his 40-year-old son in apparent self defense after the son, armed with two gallons of gasoline, attacked his mother, authorities said.
The son was airlifted from his parents' sprawling estate at 17380 Via Recanto yesterday after being shot in the leg with a shotgun, San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies said. He died today at Scripps Hospital, La Jolla.
Deputies originally identified the son as James A. Blackmore but corrected that information as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, after the San Diego county medical examiner identified the son as Thomas Blackmore.
Thomas Blackmore showed up at his parents' Rancho Santa Fe estate yesterday afternoon and attacked his elderly mother, Sheriff's Lieutenant Dennis Brugos said. She fought him off, and the younger Blackmore attacked his father, who had armed himself with a shotgun. The father, identified as Allen Blackmore, shot his son once in the leg.
Thomas Blackmore had a history of mental illness and alcohol addiction, Brugos said. He was detained last Friday by sheriff's detectives after he threatened to kill himself in text messages to family and friends. Brugos says Blackmore was sent to a psychiatric ward, where he was held for 72 hours.
Court records show he was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on charges of battery with serious bodily injury, and making a criminal threat.
Blackmore parked two blocks from his parents' estate, and carried a two-gallon container of gasoline to the house. Deputies do not know what prompted the attack.
Homicide investigators were at the Blackmore's mansion Tuesday morning.
First Published: Sep 8, 2009 11:22 AM PST
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