BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A 72-year-old Williamson man was arrested July 9 after police said he shot his son in the abdomen during an argument on Vinson Street.

Arthur “Duke” Lovett was charged with malicious assault and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Mingo County Sheriff’s Department Deputies T.J. Justice, B.T. Sipple and A. Moore, with assistance from the Williamson detachment of the West Virginia State Police, made the arrest.

Law enforcement officers answered a 911 call about the shooting Thursday night, July 2. They found that Aiden Lovett (age not available) had been shot in the abdomen and was transported to a local hospital.

The defendant and injured party are related, according to the arrest report.

Sources stated Aiden Lovett is Arthur Lovett’s son. The two had allegedly been involved in a verbal altercation at the time of the incident. During the argument, Arthur Lovett allegedly fired a handgun that struck Aiden Lovett in the stomach area.

The defendant reportedly told officers that his son was taking advantage of him due to him being disabled. Police said the defendant was upset because the son was speaking to his mother “in a harsh way.”

Arthur Lovett then asked for an attorney, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers noted that he had a prior arrest on file from 2013.

The defendant was arraigned in Mingo County Magistrate Court before Magistrate Jim Harvey. Bond was set at $20,000.

The Williamson City Police Department has also been involved in the ongoing investigation.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.