PHILADELPHIA _ A Philadelphia police officer has been charged with attempted murder for shooting his 19-year-old son in September because he felt the teen had disrespected him, District Attorney Seth Williams said Tuesday.
On Sept. 5 _ Labor Day _ Officer Dorion Young, 46, was at his home in Northeast Philadelphia with his two sons and his eldest son's girlfriend, prosecutors said.
Young, a 25-year veteran of the police department, allegedly started an argument with one of his sons, Devine Young, over the "disrespect he felt about the use of the family car," Williams said.
As the argument escalated, Young waved his personal .40-caliber pistol about and shouted "you my son and you aren't going to keep disrespecting me," according to the District Attorney's Office.
Young walked away from his son and called 911 but then went back and broke down his son's bedroom door and began a physical fight with him, Williams said.
Devine Young tried to walk away from his father but as he did so, Dorion Young shot him in the back, prosecutors said.
The teen was taken to Aria Health's Torresdale campus, where he was initially listed in critical condition.
Williams said Devine Young lost his spleen as a result of the shooting and that he continues to recover from the mental and physical wounds he suffered that day.
Along with attempted murder, Dorion Young faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, possessing instruments of a crime and related offenses.
He has been suspended from the police department for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.
