Andrew Scoffield (Bannock County Jail).
An Idaho man allegedly killed his uncle by striking him with a "large electric flyswatter" after the victim deflated the tires of an ATV.
Andrew Scoffield stands accused of second-degree murder in the death of Jeffery Scoffield. The incident occurred on Sunday in Pocatello, which is in southeast Idaho, cops say.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by the East Idaho News and Idaho State Journal, cops responded to a home after receiving a report of a "slumped over and deceased" man. The victim's son told cops he received a text message from his cousin that he may have killed Jeffery Scoffield "with an electric fly swatter."
The son rushed to the home, where he found his father unconscious and covered in pepper spray. He started CPR until first responders arrived, but they pronounced the victim dead.
According to the affidavit, Andrew Scoffield told detectives in an interview after receiving his Miranda rights that he had been living with his uncle for a few months. But the relationship deteriorated after Jeffery Scoffield gave his nephew a $600 loan. Andrew Scoffield reportedly claimed his uncle began making disparaging remarks such as calling his nephew "his maid" and cutting off power to the suspect's living area.
Neighbors reportedly said that Andrew Scoffield had been behaving erratically in the days leading up to the homicide. He was riding a four-wheeler around the neighborhood while hurling profanities, per cops. This reportedly led Jeffery Scoffield to deflate the ATV's tires.
The suspect allegedly said that on the day of the killing, his uncle came home and started yelling at him. This reportedly sparked an argument that turned physical.
Andrew Scoffield allegedly unloaded a can of pepper spray on his uncle. He then reportedly took the electric flyswatter and hit his uncle in the head, causing it to "snap back."
Jeffery Scoffield fell back in a chair, "gasping for air," according to the affidavit. The suspect allegedly fled the scene and went to his friend's house to wash off the pepper spray before cops arrested him a few hours later.
Andrew Scoffield is in the Bannock County Jail on a $1 million bond. His next court date is Sept. 14.