Inset (left): Michael Dudley (Payette County Sheriff's Office). Inset (right): Howard Schofield IV (GoFundMe). Background: The Payette County Sheriff's Office in Payette, Idaho (Google Maps).
An Idaho teenager who allegedly shot his stepfather reportedly made a threat that he wanted to "make him jump."
Michael Dudley, 19, was charged with first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the shooting death of his stepfather, 47-year-old Howard Schofield IV. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local news outlet EastIdahoNews.com, Dudley went to his mother's home in New Plymouth, Idaho, where she lived with Schofield, on Sept. 18 to collect some items. Dudley reportedly said he and his girlfriend had paid Schofield more than $2,000 to renovate their trailer, which did not have a working bathroom.
According to the affidavit, Schofield did not perform any of the work, so Dudley decided to take some of Schofield's personal items as payment. Schofield accused his stepson of stealing and reportedly "started getting mad and argumentative."
Dudley and Schofield's argument escalated into a physical fight, and the younger man told police that his stepfather started hitting him. According to the affidavit, Dudley was carrying a gun in the pocket of his sweatshirt, which Schofield reportedly grabbed, causing the gun to go off and fire a shot into his chest.
Schofield was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Dudley told them he "never pulled the trigger and that he never intended on shooting" his stepfather. Dudley said he was trying to defend himself.
Police spoke to Dudley's girlfriend, who said she did not see what happened. She told police she heard Dudley say, "[D]on't you hit me" and "[G]et the f— off of me." According to the affidavit, the girlfriend also told police that Dudley told her before they went to his mother's house that he wanted to shoot Schofield in the foot "to make him jump and work."
Dudley remains in custody at the Payette County Jail, where he is being held on $1 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 19.
Comments