Franklin man shoots, kills his 22-year-old son
Macon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of 22-year-old Hunter Curtis after he was shot and killed by his father on March 26 during a domestic dispute.
Hunter’s death has left the small community reeling as law enforcement tries to piece together what happened inside the Curtis household that night.
A distraught Monica Curtis, Hunter’s mother, made the call to 911 about 10:30 p.m. that night. Through heavy sobbing she requested emergency responders at the Stonecreek Drive residence but couldn’t tell dispatch what had happened as a verbal and physical altercation can be heard in the background. Monica informed dispatch that Hunter was really drunk and Tony had just had surgery on his eyes.
“I just don’t want them to hurt each other,” she said.
According to the incident report, a deputy arrived at the Curtis home to find Monica waiting outside the home. Upon entering the house, the deputy found Tony Curtis standing in a doorway without a shirt on and bloodstains on his body and left ear.
Tony told the deputy he needed help and led him to the bathroom inside a bedroom where he found Hunter lying in the tub. Tony told the officer he shot Hunter.
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After calling for EMS and backup, the deputy took a hand towel from the bathroom and applied pressure to Hunter’s stomach wound. Other deputies arrived to secure the firearm from the bedroom. EMS took over medical care on Hunter, but he died later that night at Angel Medical Center.
Tony told deputies Hunter came home intoxicated and an argument began between them. He said he thought Hunter was locked outside the residence after hearing him scream and yell so he went to let him back inside.
“(Tony) Curtis explained he grabbed the firearm from the bedroom drawer,” the deputy reported. “T. Curtis drifted from the conversation from that point.”
The case is still under investigation though no charges have been filed against Tony. The Curtis Family owns Curtis TV/Radio Shack in Franklin. Tony’s father, Verlin Curtis, served as a Franklin alderman for 12 years.
Funeral services for Hunter are planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, March 31, at Discover Church. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of Hunter to Teen Challenge, an organization founded to combat alcohol and drug addiction in the community.
