Deputies arrest 85-year-old man in fatal shooting at Palm Coast home

An 85-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder in the killing on Blare Drive in Palm Coast Monday morning, after an argument over the air conditioner being off, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

Charles Kidd Jr., 85, was charged with second-degree murder and was being booked into the Flagler County jail on Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff's office stated.

Kidd is accused of shooting Mark Ruschmeier, 36, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

"Our detectives determined the shooting occurred in the hallway of the home after what was described to us as a minor verbal argument," Sheriff Rick Staly said in a phone interview. "I was told it was about the air conditioning not being on."

Deputies received two calls about 5:50 a.m. Monday from the house at 20 Blare Drive. One was from Kidd who told 911 operators that he had just shot a man inside his home.

Ruschmeier resided in the Blare Drive residence with Kidd and his mother, Brigitte Ruschmeier, 69, who also called 911 about the shooting. Kidd is not the victim's biological father.

Brigitte Ruschmeier told detectives that there had been hostility between her son and Kidd for a couple of years for unknown reasons. She said that Kidd had told her numerous times that he was going to kill her son, a charging affidavit stated.

She told investigators that on Monday morning the two got into an argument about the air conditioner. She said her son walked out onto the patio and then she heard him come back in as if he forgot something.

She said she heard her son telling Kidd to "get off of me" and she could see them struggling in the bathroom, but did not have a full view of what was happening.

She went to the living room to get her cellphone and call 911 when she heard the first gunshot and then heard her son make a sound as if he he was hurt, the affidavit stated. She said a second or two later she heard another gunshot.

She said Kidd walked into the hallway and said, "He got what he deserved."

Kidd then walked into his bedroom.

Brigitte Ruschmeier ran to the room where her son was and saw him on the ground with his arm over his head. There was a lot of blood on the floor from a gunshot wound to the head, the affidavit stated.

When interviewed by detectives, Kidd said that he was in a physical altercation with Mark Ruschmeier but he could not remember what was said or what took place. He could not provide an explanation of what caused the altercation, the affidavit stated.

Kidd said "he believes he remembers Mark trying to choke him and him shooting him," the affidavit stated.

Staly said there were no injuries on Kidd.

"There are no physical injuries on the suspect; certainly no injuries related to this incident early this morning," Staly said.

Staly praised the quick work of his detectives.

“This is an unfortunate situation for all,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our detectives have worked tirelessly since early this morning to determine what happened, and an arrest was made in less than 12 hours.”

When deputies arrived at the home they ordered Kidd to come out with his hands up, which he did. Once they searched him, deputies found he had five .38-caliber rounds and five "4-10's Remington rounds" on him.

A neighbor, Rosemary Paffumi, told The News-Journal that Kidd was retired from the Coast Guard and that he was a widower. She said Kidd allowed the woman to move into the house because she cared for Kidd's wife before she died. The woman's son had also moved in.

Paffumi said she had talked to Kidd three weeks ago and he had told her that the woman and her son were moving out.

"He was really happy," she said. "He said they found a place to live and it's in Daytona."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Palm Coast man, 85, arrested in fatal shooting at Blare Drive home