A tragic family incident occurred late Saturday night in Bartow, where a father was fatally shot, and his wife severely wounded. The suspect, their son, Joseph Voigt, 23, was subsequently arrested in Orlando. Law enforcement responded to an emergency call from Susan Voigt, 58, who reported that she and her husband, Marvin Voigt, 63, had been shot by their son. According to WFLA, Bartow police found Marvin Voigt deceased in the driveway with multiple gunshot wounds, while Susan was located inside the home, suffering from serious injuries.
The response from Bartow Police and subsequent measures by the Bartow Fire Department and EMS stabilized Susan before her transportation to the hospital, where she remains in critical but stable condition. A BOLO for Joseph's vehicle was issued across the Polk and surrounding counties. In a statement obtained by FOX 13, the Orlando Police located and conducted a felony traffic stop on Joseph's vehicle around 2 a.m. on International Drive, leading to his arrest.
Joseph Voigt has been booked at the Orange County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Notably, he had only been released from jail earlier this month after an October arrest for discharging a gun in a residential area. The Sheriff of Polk County, Grady Judd, praised the cooperative efforts of the involved law enforcement agencies. According to ABC Action News, Judd stated, "Thanks to the rapid response of the Bartow Police Department this violent and dangerous suspect was quickly apprehended. My detectives will continue their thorough investigation into this crime to ensure Voigt will face the full consequences of his actions."
Following his capture, deputies confirmed that Joseph admitted to the shootings. He reportedly told officials that the altercation was provoked by his father who was upset over the amount of time he spent playing video games and pressuring him about getting a job. Further details of this case are expected to be released, as reported by WFLA, which also included a statement from Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker expressing his deep sorrow over the "senseless shooting." The ongoing investigation, led by the Polk County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of Orlando Police, aims to piece together the events that led to this family tragedy.
