Jun 24, 2019 3 min read

After breaking into his parents’ Greene County home, a Washington Township man was mistaken for an intruder and shot in the arm by his step-father, state police said.

William James Wilson, 34, of 793 Dividing Ridge Road, was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., after he was shot by his 65-year-old step-father, whose name was not released by state police.

According to the criminal complaint, Wilson had been arguing with his parents earlier that morning. Police said about 3 a.m. Wilson had been combative with his step-father and 63-year-old mother, destroying items in their house, where Wilson also lives.

Wilson allegedly told his parents that he would “take their faces off” before he left the house about 3:30 a.m. When he left, they locked and secured the house through their home security system.

At 8:30 a.m., Wilson returned and began knocking and banging on doors and windows in an attempt to get inside the house, police said.

“That sent off about six different motion alarms, so patrol units were already en route for that,” said Trooper Lucas Borkowski, who’s investigating the case.

When the couple heard someone trying to break into their home, they pushed the security system panic button, which connected them to a representative of the security system, who then contacted police. Police said the couple were in a second-floor bedroom when they heard glass breaking on their second-story balcony. They then heard the balcony door open.

Police said the step-father didn’t know it was his son when he peeked out the bedroom door and saw Wilson “charging” down a hallway at their bedroom. Police said they closed the bedroom door, but Wilson forced it open. That’s when the step-father used a handgun to shoot Wilson in the right arm, police said.

“They were both scared … and feared for their lives,” police said of Wilson’s parents in the criminal complaint.

Police said Wilson fled the house to a neighbor’s residence.

“That’s when they realized it was their son,” Borkowski said.

Wilson was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment. Police said he will be arraigned once he’s released from the hospital, where he’s in stable condition.

“He had to have a surgery, so he’ll be there a few days,” Borkowski said.

He said the bullet went through Wilson’s bicep, and police were able to collect the bullet and casing. Wilson’s parents haven’t been charged. Borkowski said Wilson’s step-father does have a valid license to carry a firearm.