Father Racks Loaded Handgun in Son's Face, Says 'That Could Have Been You'

MILWAUKEE, WI — Police have arrested a 45-year-old Milwaukee man after he reportedly pointed a loaded gun at his juvenile son after a physical altercation.

According to police, Joseph Jackson faces multiple felony charges in the incident, and could face up to 11 years behind bars if he is convicted.

According to his criminal complaint, the boy, age 17, was at home when his father, Jackson, approached him and grabbed both of his arms during a physical confrontation. Jackson began pushing the boy towards the stove, which was on when they both fell to the floor.

According to the complaint, Jackson punched his son, then grabbed the front part of his son's neck and began to squeeze, making it hard for the boy to breathe. The boy's mother came into the kitchen and was able to break up the Jackson and his son.

According to the complaint, the boy said that he then went up to his bedroom. It wasn't too much later before his father reportedly charged into the room, pointing a black handgun at JJ’s face and stating, “[expletive] are like dogs, when they get out of line you need to shoot them.”

The complaint stated that Jackson then racked his gun and a bullet fell out, with Jackson stating, “Pick that up and keep it as a souvenir, because that could have been you.”

The complaint stated that the boy stayed up all night because he was afraid his father would come back into the room. The boy also said that he never contacted police because he is afraid his dad.

When police investigated the incident, the boy was staying at his aunt's home. When police asked him why, the boy stated that he was afraid to return home because his father has been hitting him and he is scared of his father, police reported.

According to the complaint, that's when the boy said there was a day over Christmas break when his father fought him and pointed a gun at him.

The complaint stated that police went to Jackson's where he was later arrested. During a search of the home officers were not able to locate a firearm, but did locate a box of bullets on the top of the headboard in the defendant’s bedroom. That box of bullets was later tested and two of the defendant’s fingerprints were located on the box.

> image via milwaukee county jail