Man accused of threatening parents with AK-47, firing shots in Cape Coral home

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

A man was arrested at a Cape Coral home on Saturday after being accused of threatening his parents with an AK-47 and firing the gun inside the house.

According to the Cape Coral Police Department arrest report, officers responded to a home at around 6:28 p.m. after reports of a shooting. The victims were identified as the parents of the suspect, Charles Benitez, 32.

The victims told deputies that Benitez had gotten into an argument with his mother after she would not let him have her car keys because she suspected he was under the influence, CCPD said. During the argument, Benitez grabbed his mother on the shoulder and demanded she give him the keys.

When he was unable to obtain the keys, Benitez went to his room, grabbed a rifle, and returned to the living room, the report said. He then threatened to kill his mother if she did not give him the car keys.

The report notes that Benitez kept the rifle at his side and never pointed it at his mother. Benitez's father then took the rifle from him and gave it to his mother, who put it away in her bedroom closet.

While she was in the closet, Benitez's mother heard the argument continue, and Benitez went to his room and grabbed an AK-47, the report said. She then heard Benitez's father say, "You're going to kill an old man?" which was followed by the sounds of multiple rapid gunshots coming from the living room.

Benitez's mother stayed in her closet and called 911. Benitez's father explained that the gunshots occurred because he feared that Benitez might try to shoot him, so he grabbed the gun and pointed it toward the glass table, the report said. The gun then fired multiple shots before it was wrestled away from Benitez by his father.

The report said that Benitez then went to his mother's door and apologized.

Officers arrested Benitez, and he now faces nine total charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, battery, aggravated assault on a person 65 years or older, and shooting a missile into a dwelling.

Benitez remains in custody at the Lee County Jail.

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