By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@thecitizennews.com

A father and son's argument over dinner escalated into a deadly situation with loaded .357 pistol at an Olympic Road residence in Fayette County last Wednesday.

The son, 13, went to his room and told a friend that he wanted to kill his father, according to Lt. Mahlon Donald of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. The father overheard the threat, entered the room, and threw the gun at the child, apparently daring him to follow through on the threat, Donald added.

The revolver caused a cut on the youth's arm, but the weapon did not discharge, Donald said.

“There was nothing to indicate he (the son) ever touched the gun,” Donald said.

The father, Paul Laurin Walker, 44, was arrested for simple battery (family violence act) and reckless conduct, according to the deputy. Donald said the son was released into his mother's custody.

The incident was reported to the sheriff's department through 911, Donald said, though he was unsure who made the call. A report filed by the deputies indicates that the incident was preceded by an argument between the father and son over dinner.

The youth was not charged, Donald added. Georgia law requires the incident to be reported to the Department of Family and Children Services.

If Walker is convicted of the crime under the family violence act, he will no longer be allowed to own a firearm, the deputy said.

Walker did have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, but it was not necessary in this case since the incident took place inside his residence, the deputy said.