A doctor from Oklahoma was indicted on Thursday for the 2016 fatal shooting of a man, who was arguing with him over politics.
Dr Jerry Hernandez, 56, was charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Roy Lee Weeaks.
Weeaks, who was from Colorado, was visiting his daughter, Stacey Weeaks, and Hernandez at their home in Cordell, Oklahoma, on December 7, 2016, a month after Donald Trump’s shocking presidential win.
Dr Jerry Hernandez (pictured), 56, was charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Roy Lee Weeaks
At some point, Hernandez and Weeaks, who was a retired US Army veteran, began to argue over politics, which was still a sensitive subject at the time following the election.
Weeaks was then asked to leave the home during the argument, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
Once both men were outside, they pulled out their firearms.
Authorities said Hernandez fired one shot, striking Weeaks in the chest.
Weeaks, whose wife, Sharon, died just the year before his death, was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
Oklahoma’s grand jury accused Hernandez in the felony indictment of fatally shooting Weeaks ‘in the heat of passion’ last year, according to News OK.
At the time, a spokesperson for the OSBI said only said the argument ‘was over politics’.
It’s still unknown what sparked the deadly argument, but a request for comment to the OSBI was not immediately returned.
Weeaks was then asked to leave the home (pictured) during the argument. Once both men were outside, they pulled out their firearms. Authorities said Hernandez fired one shot, striking Weeaks in the chest. It’s still unknown what sparked the deadly argument