Prosecutors: Milwaukee man fatally shot his father after arguing over washing dishes

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Charges were filed Tuesday against a Milwaukee man accused of fatally shooting his own father.

The shooting happened Saturday, Aug. 31, near 24th Place and Auer. Prosecutors said it followed an argument in the home about dishes being washed — and the accused was on probation at the time.

Varick Choice Jr., 24, faces one count of first degree reckless homicide, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to a criminal complaint, police received a 911 call around 8:30 a.m. regarding shots being fired in the area.

When police arrived, they saw that the front door of a duplex in the area was wide open, and a juvenile male came out of the lower unit. When asked if he heard any gunfire, the male pointed to the upper unit.

When officers went upstairs, they heard a woman screaming. The victim, Varick Choice Sr., was found on the living room floor, surrounded by blood.

Soon, officers heard footsteps running up the back stairwell. Varick Choice Jr. ran out of the kitchen area, and his shoes were covered in blood, the complaint said.

Choice Jr. told police “an unknown black male” had shot his father, and ran out the back door. Choice Jr. said he ran after the shooter, but the man got in a vehicle and drove away.

Choice Sr. was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed he suffered nine gunshot wounds.

Investigators interviewed a woman who said she had been staying at the home. She said she got home on the morning of Aug. 31, and Choice Jr. and his sister were arguing about doing dishes. Eventually, Choice Jr.'s sister left for work, but the woman said Choice Jr. was “still angry.” She said he began arguing with his father. The woman said she went out to her vehicle, and heard three to four gunshots. She said she ran back inside and saw Choice Jr. standing in the living room, holding a gun, with Choice Sr. on the floor in a pool of blood. The woman said Choice Jr. said “he was sorry, that it was an accident, and that he did not mean to do it.”