WOODVILLE, WI – A 22-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide following the fatal shooting of his father at their family home on Friday afternoon, authorities reported.
Calumet County officials responded to the incident after Ethan James Graverson, the accused, called 911 around 1 p.m. from their Woodville residence. He reportedly informed dispatchers that he was compelled to shoot his father, who he claimed was acting irrationally. Upon their arrival, responding deputies instructed Graverson to leave the house and surrender his firearm, which he did without incident.
Inside the home, deputies found Graverson’s father dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and groin, concealed within a closet. At the scene, paramedics confirmed the man’s death, and police located five 9mm shell casings in the kitchen area.
The events leading to the tragedy unfolded shortly after Graverson arrived home from work and discovered his father drinking. What started as a verbal exchange escalated quickly, according to authorities. Graverson conveyed to investigators that he perceived his father’s comments as condescending, stemming from “just life in general,” which incited the violent outcome.
During the investigation, Graverson admitted to retrieving a handgun from the garage — a gun he claimed to have never used against anyone prior to the fatal confrontation. He recounted a tense moment where his father initially asked him to put down the gun and attempted to embrace him, but subsequently dared him to settle the matter physically. Graverson confessed to firing several times as his father advanced toward him.
Graverson struggled to recall the exact number of shots fired but estimated it was between five to seven. He insisted it wasn’t a full magazine’s worth of ammunition.
Upon returning from a grocery store, Graverson’s mother encountered the scene. Authorities noted that she reported a strained relationship between her son and herself following his return to their home after a breakup last year. She acknowledged her son’s emotional struggles but was unaware of any recent conflicts between him and his father.
During the investigation, Graverson’s lack of emotional response was noted by officials; he appeared to smirk and chuckle while waiting for his interview. He later shockingly revealed to detectives that he had harbored thoughts of killing his father since he was about 10 or 11 years old. However, despite these feelings, he admitted that his father often expressed affection toward him.
Following the notification of his father’s death, Graverson’s reaction was notably detached, as he expressed uncertainty on how to respond. He remains in custody at Calumet County Jail with bail set at $1 million as the investigation continues.
This tragic incident underscores the complex dynamics that can exist within familial relationships, and it also raises questions about mental health and the ways in which underlying issues are addressed or overlooked within family settings.