Port Orange man charged with shooting, killing stepson, police say

68-year-old man in custody

PORT ORANGE, Fla. – A domestic violence incident Monday morning ended with a man fatally shooting his stepson, according to the Port Orange Police Department. 

Police said Danny Holder, 68, shot his stepson, 55-year-old Randall Lowen, around 8 a.m. in a home at 6509 Shahab Lane.

Holder is charged with first-degree murder, Port Orange police Officer Evan Doyle said.

Police didn't release any information about what led to the shooting.

Holder's wife, who is also Lowen's mother, was in the home at the time of the shooting and called 911 at 8:06 a.m. 

Michael Lowen, the victim's brother, was shocked when he heard about the shooting. He said the two men had a history of butting heads, but his brother was never violent.

"My brother was the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back and his last penny," Michael Lowen said. "Him and my stepfather argued a lot and I'm just stunned at what transpired."

While Michael Lowen did emphasize that his brother was never violent with their stepfather, he did detail one incident in which Randall Lowen was physical with his brother.

"My brother pushed me a year and half ago one morning when he was drinking," Michael Lowen said. "I called the cops but not to have him arrested, but to be 'spoken to,' but he smarted off to the cop and got arrested. He never hit me, never ever hit my stepfather and never ever ever hit my mom." 

News 6 did find court documents showing this argument. The records show that in October 2015, Randall Lowen was arrested on a misdemeanor following an domestic dispute with his brother Michael Lowen. 

"They were both hard to get along with, but as I said, my brother would give you the shirt off his back and give you his last penny," Michael Lowen said. "I'm devastated."

Michael Lowen said his mother provided him with more information on Monday's shooting.

"There was no arguing ... just two smart remarks and my stepfather got out of his chair, walked into his room, got his gun, walked into the kitchen and with my mom standing between them raised the gun and shot my brother in the head," Michael Lowen said. "This was not a self-defense killing ... this was flat out, cold-blooded murder."

Check back with News 6 for more on this breaking news story. 

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