Teen charged as adult after shooting dad multiple times during fight over school

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A fight over attending school online or in-person reportedly triggered a near-fatal shooting that landed a 17-year-old in jail.

Prosecutors charged James Seals Jr. as an adult for the attempted murder of his father on Aug. 6.

The shooting happened just after noon Wednesday in the 8200 block of Wysong Drive. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene and found Seals’ father suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Medics rushed him to Eskenazi Hospital for emergency surgery.

Seals Jr. was taken into custody at his grandfather’s home just down the street from the shooting incident.

In speaking with Seals’ grandparents, detectives learned the grandmother been working in her room of the house when she heard Seals yelling at his father to “pull up.” Seals Sr. was spotted walking through the yard and into the house as Seals Jr. was pointing two firearms at him.

Court documents say father and son began to fight over the guns, one of the firearms falling apart as they wrestled over it. The grandmother tried to deescalate the situation, but after leaving, heard gunshots. Seals Sr. then exited Seals Jr.’s bedroom with blood coming from his mouth.

Both the grandmother and Seals Jr. ran to the grandfather’s house. As Seals Jr. ran past, he reportedly yelled at his grandparents: “I just shot your b**** a** son.”

The grandfather also told detectives Seals Jr. said, “Grandpa, I shot my dad; I told him if he ever puts his hands on me again, I’d do that.”

He added that Seals Sr. had anger issues, but police did not indicate if there was a history of domestic violence.

The grandfather’s security cameras show Seals Jr. trying to enter his home through the back door. Once realizing it was locked, he gave up and laid in the driveway with his hands on his head.

Seals Sr., days after the shooting, spoke with investigators. Court documents say Seals Sr. revealed he and his son were fighting over school, as Seals Jr. was set to start school Aug. 6. When discussing it over the phone, Seals Jr. informed his father that his mother gave him permission to do online school.

Seals Sr. claimed he was frustrated, telling police he went home to handle the situation. As soon as he walked inside, he said Seals Jr. was pointing firearms at him.

In response, Seals Sr. took his son’s firearms and retrieved his own gun. He held it out to his son, saying “You’re not built for this.” Seals Sr. clarified to police here that he did not aim the gun at his son, but held it out as if gesturing “if you think you’re big enough, then here is a gun.”

Seals Jr. then took the firearm and tried to shoot it, but there was no bullet in the chamber. After racking the slide, he shot his father multiple times.

Seals Sr. told police the shooting “wasn’t self-defense” and “he wants his son to be great and that he is hard on him. He doesn’t want his son to be a high school dropout like him and have bad jobs.”

When searching the Seals’ home, officers found a 3D printer and materials to 3D-print handguns. One of the printed guns contained live ammunition. They also found Seals Jr.’s school laptop and homework, a blood-covered hoodie, and at least nine shell casings.

Court records show Seals Jr. faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, and dangerous possession of a firearm by a child.

He was due in court for his initial hearing Tuesday morning. A jury trial was set to begin Oct. 20.

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