An 80-year-old man is facing charges after shooting and killing his 52-year-old roommate in a dispute over unpaid rent on November 2, 2023.
According to the Taney County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at their shared residence in Bradleyville, Missouri. The probable cause affidavit revealed that the conflict stemmed from Jon Lovelace failing to contribute to rent and other living expenses. Charles Vernon Tinker, who had reportedly grown increasingly frustrated with his roommate’s financial negligence, confronted Lovelace on the night of the incident.
Before the fatal encounter, the assailant, Tinker, consumed four shots of whiskey. During their argument, Tinker claimed that Lovelace threatened his life, prompting him to retrieve a 9mm Ruger handgun from his bedroom. Things escalated when Tinker fired two warning shots outside their residence, an action he later explained was meant to make his roommate leave the area.
The affidavit states that Tinker had intended to shoot his roommate in the leg as a form of retaliation or to incapacitate him. However, the altercation took a lethal turn, and he shot him in the stomach. After the shooting, Tinker did not call for emergency services or attempt to administer first aid to Lovelace. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Lovelace was already dead.
The Taney County Sheriff’s Office and other local authorities responded to the scene. Tinker was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. During the interrogation, the suspect reiterated that Lovelace’s failure to pay his share of the rent and the subsequent threat to his life led to the shooting.
Tinker is currently in custody, awaiting trial.
