Investigators say the case began with a 911 call from the man now accused of murder.

LUBBOCK, Texas — A 78-year-old Lubbock County man was charged with murder after deputies say he called 911 and reported that he had shot and killed his adult son during a dispute at their home.

Michael Vernie Owens remained in the Lubbock County Detention Center after the death of 37-year-old Michael Joseph Owens, who was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head on April 22. The case now turns on what investigators say happened before the shot, including a dispute over Social Security money, an alleged history of threats and a same-day trip to open a new bank account.

The first official record of the killing came at about 7:20 p.m., when the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office received a report of gunfire in the 1600 block of 126th Street. Deputies said the caller reported that he had shot and killed one person. When deputies arrived at the property, they found Michael Joseph Owens dead. The caller, later identified as Michael Vernie Owens, was still there. Sheriff’s officials said he turned himself in at the scene and told deputies he was the victim’s father. That sequence, described in local reports and court documents, placed the elder Owens at the center of the investigation from the opening minutes of the response.

Investigators later said Owens gave a detailed account of the argument. He told deputies his son had been taking Social Security money from his bank account for the past several months. He also said his son had threatened him more than once and had assaulted him before. Officials said those alleged assaults had not been reported to law enforcement. Owens told detectives his son had used the words “I’m going to kill you” so often that the phrase “lost its value.” The alleged history matters because it is part of the account Owens gave officers, but authorities have not said that they had prior police reports backing up those claims.

Owens told investigators he took action earlier that day to stop his son from reaching his money. He said he went to a bank to open a new account and move funds into it. According to the account given to detectives, the plan was to keep Michael Joseph Owens from accessing the Social Security money. After the bank visit, Owens returned to the property on 126th Street. He said his son learned about the trip and confronted him outside an RV on the main property of the home. That RV became the place where investigators say the money dispute turned into a fatal encounter.

Owens said his son banged on the RV door and was standing at the bottom of the steps when he answered. He told investigators that Michael Joseph Owens whispered “I’m going to kill you” and moved toward him. Owens said he then fired once, striking his son in the head. “I guess I lost it then,” Owens told investigators, according to reports citing the probable-cause affidavit. “I shot him. I think I snapped. I either snapped or I just had enough.” Officials have not released a full transcript of the 911 call or the interview, and the public record described so far is still centered on the defendant’s own account.

Deputies found the younger Owens with a fatal head wound on the property. Reports say the elder Owens did not give first aid because he believed his son was dead. Investigators with the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit took over the case after the sheriff’s office response. That unit commonly handles major violent crime investigations in the area. Authorities have not publicly described the firearm, the number of shell casings recovered, any body-camera footage or whether other people were at the property when the shot was fired. The case remains active, and several details about the physical evidence have not been released.

The charge against Michael Vernie Owens is murder. In Texas, the offense can carry a punishment of five years to life in prison, according to reports on the court filing. A murder warrant was issued after investigators reviewed the case, and Owens was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center. Jail records cited in reports listed his bond at $250,000. The filing of a murder charge does not decide guilt. It begins the criminal process, which can include bond proceedings, attorney appearances, grand jury review, plea negotiations and, if the case continues, trial proceedings in district court.

The official account leaves two sharply different facts side by side. The father is the person investigators say called 911 and remained at the scene, but he is also the person accused of firing the fatal shot. His statement describes fear, frustration and a long-running money dispute. The charge treats the death as a criminal homicide. Authorities have not said whether prosecutors will argue that the shooting was intentional without legal justification or whether the defense will later raise issues tied to threats, age, alleged abuse or fear. Those questions have not yet been tested in open court.

The location of the shooting also shaped the early reporting. The property was described as a residence in south Lubbock County, with an RV on the grounds and a home in a suburban area of lawns and trees. Deputies did not report a search for a fleeing suspect because the caller was still on the property. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Michael Joseph Owens. The accused was identified as 78-year-old Michael Vernie Owens. Their shared name and family relationship made the case a father-son killing from the start, but investigators have kept the focus on the alleged statements, the bank account dispute and the events immediately before the gunfire.

No public report has said that Michael Joseph Owens was armed. No public report has said whether investigators found records showing money was taken from the elder Owens’ account. No public report has said whether the bank visit was confirmed through bank records, video or witnesses. Those unknowns may matter as the case moves through court. The statements attributed to Owens give investigators one version of the conflict, but police and prosecutors often look for independent evidence before a case reaches indictment or trial.

For now, the case remains a murder prosecution built from a 911 call, a death scene and an interview with the accused father. Michael Vernie Owens is being held on the charge as investigators continue reviewing the fatal shooting and the next court steps are set.

Author note: Last updated May 19, 2026.