Calif. authorities: Federal agent slain by son

[May 04, 2012]  CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- A federal agent and Navy veteran was shot as he sat in his family room, killed by a bullet that came from outside through a window. Authorities say the bullet came from his own gun and it was fired by his 14-year-old son.

The boy called 911 to report the shooting of his father, Special Agent Myron Chisem, 42, a five-year veteran of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said Thursday.

The son was later arrested and booked for investigation of murder. Neither the boy's name nor any possible motive was released.

"Evidence gained from the scene and statements made by the suspect" led to the arrest, sheriff's Lt. Holly Francisco said. The handgun used in the shooting belonged to Chisem and it was found in the front yard, she said.

Chisem was the second ICE agent killed in Southern California this year.

In February, agent Ezequiel Garcia was killed by a fellow agent after Garcia shot his supervisor at ICE offices in Long Beach. Garcia was being counseled on his job performance when the shooting occurred, authorities said.

The shooting of Chisem occurred late Wednesday in a two-story home in Carson, about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, along a row of modest but tidy homes tucked into an industrial area.

Sheriff's investigators said the boy had been in the house prior to the shooting and then fired a gun through a window, striking his father as he sat in the family room.

Chisem's girlfriend also lived at the house but was not there at the time.

Chisem's friend, Shawn Butler, said the boy had moved into his father's house about six months ago. Butler, who also has a teenage son, said Chisem never indicated there was any tension between him and his son.

"I have no answer to why or how" the attack occurred, said Butler, 41, a former ICE agent. "Everything was coming together. Everything was peachy, peachy, lovely."

Chisem's son did fairly well at a nearby high school and liked to play video games, he said.

"He has to go through all this now," a tearful Butler said. "His father loved him so much. I'm in disbelief."

Butler said he and Chisem became friends while they were in the Navy, and Chisem also had two older daughters and worked at Los Angeles International Airport on contraband and smuggling investigations.

Chisem was the godfather of Butler's kids and the two played chess and golf together.

"I loved him like my own brother," Butler said. "He would do anything for anybody."

Fellow agents arrived at Chisem's house, lined the driveway and saluted as the body, covered by an American flag, was wheeled to a coroner's van.

"This is a difficult time for ICE, especially for the family and loved ones of the agent. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers,' ICE Director John Morton said in a statement.

[Associated Press; By GREG RISLING]

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