In a West Palm Beach Publix parking lot, a father is now facing charges of attempted murder following a custody exchange shooting. Joseph D. Halford, 28, was arrested for shooting his estranged partner's boyfriend in the neck during what was supposed to be a routine exchange of their 9-year-old son.
According to reports from CBS12, the victim, a 36-year-old man, was immediately rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center with serious injuries. At the crime scene, the West Palm Beach Police Department officers detained Halford alongside the victim's girlfriend. A 9mm Taurus firearm and a single casing were recovered atop of Halford's black Hyundai Genesis, as stated in the police report.
As per CBS12, the situation escalated when the mother's boyfriend allegedly made a gun gesture with his fingers, pressed them against Halford's forehead, and pushed him, prompting Halford to say, "I spared you because of your son," according to the victim’s son's account to the police. This led Halford to shoot the boyfriend at a close range after securing his son in his vehicle.
In a statement obtained by WPBF, Halford admitted to the shooting, explaining that it was a retaliatory act following the victim's threatening gesture. Despite asserting that he did not intend to kill the boyfriend, Halford was charged with attempted murder with a firearm and is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bail. His son, a witness to the harrowing ordeal, detailed the events leading up to the shooting for the police.
