A family Monopoly game turned violent in Oklahoma after a man got angry and shot at his stepfather and stepsister over Thanksgiving weekend, leading to an assault charge, police said.
According to the Tulsa Police Department, officers responded to a call of shots fired at a Tulsa home on Saturday night, when John Ronald Dewayne Armstrong was drinking alcohol and playing Monopoly with his family when a fight broke out with his stepfather.
Tulsa Man Shoots At Family Members After Drinking And Playing Monopoly During Thanksgiving Weekend
The two reportedly tore up the home and turned over furniture amidst the squabble before the fight spilled outside.
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“The entire family had been drinking and they were playing Monopoly,” Tulsa Police Officer Danny Bean told Newsweek. “An argument broke out during this during this game-playing and drinking between our suspect and the stepfather and step-sibling.”
“Armstrong won’t be able to use the ‘get out of jail free’ card for this one,” police jokingly added in the Facebook post.
As the two went outside, Armstrong reportedly pulled out a handgun and began chasing his stepfather and stepsister down the street at gunpoint, where he admitted to firing one round.
Police said Armstrong suffered a cut to his head during the fight.
The stepsister called 911 as Armstrong chased them down the block as he fired a shot at her and her father. Neighbors reported hearing the gunshot from their homes, however no one was injured during the shooting.
Officers Found Monopoly Money, Game Pieces Strewn About Living Room, Suspect Charged With Assault
Responding officers found Monopoly money and game pieces strewn about the living room.
Officers believe Armstrong hid the pistol before they arrived, and the gun was not immediately located.
Armstrong has been arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, according to authorities. Jail records show he is currently being held on $25,000 bond.
Officer Bean said it’s quite common to see family disputes spike over the holidays.
“You tend to see some more disagreements and arguments, not necessarily super violent or anything of the sort, but definitely some disagreements where a police presence may be called,” he said.
Shooting Incident Comes Amidst Spike In Cases, Alcohol Responsible for Two-Thirds Of Domestic Abuse
Nearly 49,000 Americans died by bullets last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making for a record amount and the highest per capita since the 1990s.
Alcohol is often involved in domestic disputes and abuse, with the Alcohol Rehab Guide reporting two-thirds of spousal abuse victims claiming that the perpetrator was drinking at the time of the incident.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that roughly 55 percent of domestic abuse perpetrators were drinking alcohol prior to assault.
