PHOENIX — A man and a woman are dead after their adult son allegedly shot them at their north Phoenix home early Monday morning.
Police were called to the home near 32nd Street and Bell Road just before 5:15 a.m. for reports of a domestic violence situation. When officers arrived, they found a man leaving the home who told them that two people were dead inside.
The man, later identified as 38-year-old Jim Miller, told officers with the Phoenix Police Department he shot his parents sometime during the night.
They were identified as 73-year-old Sam Miller and 72-year-old Marjorie Valentine.
Court documents obtained by 12News reveal Jim Miller used his father's shotgun to kill his parents and then used meth to calm down.
A roommate sleeping in another room told police she heard Miller shouting, at one point saying he was going to kill his mother.
She also told police Miller had acted erratically before, once pointing a gun at her and his mother before shooting and injuring himself.
Miller lived with his parents at the time of the shooting.
He reportedly told police he had been using drugs and alcohol since he was 13-years-old.
Miller said he wasn't taking any medication for mental illness, according to court documents.
Dr. Dara Rampersad, a forensic psychologist, told 12News psychosis with symptoms of delusions and hallucinations can come on quickly when patients aren't medicated.
“Usually when people go off of their medications, it could happen within days that they end up hearing voices and seeing things again," Rampersad said.
Rampersad said people struggling with psychosis often live in fear of something or someone hurting them or their loved ones.
“It’s important for the family member or caregiver to ask them what they might be afraid of at that time of if there is anybody they are afraid of if they are in fear of being hurt by anyone," Rampersad said.
Miller was booked on two counts of first-degree murder.
The investigation remains active, police said.
Anyone in crisis is encouraged to call 988.
A GoFundMe has been created to help the family with funeral expenses during this difficult time. You can donate here.
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