Last Updated: 1:48 p.m.
For an update with further details on the shooting, go here.
A domestic dispute in Flagler Beach ended with a man shooting his son dead at a house on South Daytona Avenue around midnight Saturday. Bobby Gore, the alleged shooter, is in police custody and was charged with first-degree murder.
Lucas David Gore, 31, was killed. Police found him slumped over a table, unresponsive, when they got to the scene.
“There was some tension between the father and son,” Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney said this morning, “resulted in the shooting.”
Gore, Doughney said,”will be charged with the death of his son, to what degree at this point I’m not exactly sure.” By 10:22 this morning, when Gore, 74, was booked at the Flagler County jail, he faced a first-degree murder charge.
The property, a 1,600-square-foot two-level house, has been owned by Bobby and Bonnie Gore for almost 25 years. Bobby Gore is is custody. The couple have three adult sons, including twins. The victim was one of the twins.
The county’s 911 center got a call about the shooting at 12:26 this morning, according to a release Doughney issued in early afternoon. Bobby Gore was still armed when authorities first got to the house, the release states.
The front of the house, across the street from Flagler Beach Community Church, was cordoned off with crime tape this morning, but was otherwise unremarkable. FDLE’s crime scene unit was parked in back of the house, along with detective units from the sheriff’s office. The back driveway, inside the crime tape, was filled with three pick-up trucks and a sedan.
At 11 a.m., investigators were observed cataloguing evidence from the crime scene, including a rifle with a scope (see below), though it’s not clear whether that had been the weapon involved in the shooting: one report, unconfirmed, has a .22 handgun as the weapon used in the shooting.
A neighbor who lives immediately across the back alleyway of the Gore house said she’d heard what sounded like “a couple of shots” around midnight but thought it was people setting off firecrackers. She said she’d occasionally hear arguing in the Gore house. But she said the Gores kept to themselves, never interacting with neighbors. Other neighbors who live three houses down (one house down from the property owned by Flagler Beach City Commissioner Rick Belhumeur) also described the Gores as people who did not interact. The word “odd” was used as neighbors described the family. They said a fence had blocked off the house from the alleyway previously, but rickety as it was, it had been blown off during Hurricane Matthew.
Reached in late morning, Belhumeur said he hadn’t heard the sound of gunshots overnight. “I did know a thing. I sent Larry a text this morning, totally unrelated thing,” Belhumeur said, referring to Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom. “He called me up.” Newsom, who’d been filled in by his police chief, informed the commissioner of the shooting in his neighborhood.
“I’ve never seen or met these people,” Belhumeur said of the Gores. Only thing I know about that place is about the dog, the dog always seemed to be left unattended.”
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney called in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s crime-scene unit, which was still at the scene late this morning. The State Attorney’s homicide investigation unit, sheriff’s detectives and patrols were also at the scene to support the Flagler Beach Police Department, Staly said.
The incident reportedly began as the Gore parents were arguing at the house. Bobby Gore then went to Poor Walt’s, the bar on State Road 100 on the east side of the Flagler Beach bridge. One of his sons followed him there, and the two argued at the bar before returning home, where the shooting occurred.
“It’s a Flagler Beach Police Department case unless they ask us to take it over, which they have not, they strictly asked for support,” Staly said.
It will in fact be a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office case, led by Det. Jorge Fuentes, as the Flagler Beach’s detective, who would have normally handled the case, was not in town when it broke.
It is the second homicide this month in Flagler County. In mid-April, the Sheriff’s Office said that Charles Singer, a 48-year-old West Flagler man who’d gone missing, was found buried on his property and was believed to have been shot. There have been no arrests in that killing. Flagler Beach hasn’t had a murder in five years, the last one dating back to Paul Miller shooting dead his neighbor Dana Mulhall in the 1300 block of South Flagler Avenue. Miller, now 70, was found guilty of second-degree murder and is serving life without parole.
“This was a prime example of the city, the state and the county all working together,” Staly said of the ongoing investigation, an observation Doughney echoed. “You want to talk about city, county and state working together like a team should, from my standpoint, it couldn’t have gone any better from a law enforcement perspective,” Doughney said.
Investigators, after a final walk-through the house, left at 11:30 a.m. A deputy took down the crime scene tape. A back porch light was turned on just before law enforcement left.
“This case is an absolute tragedy,” Doughney is quoted as saying in the release. “As a Department our hearts go out to the Gore family. Our Victim Advocates are committed to assisting the Gore family during this most difficult of times and please keep them in your thought and prayers.”
Steve Robinson says
So nice to hear from the sheriff that everyone at the scene got along so well, but it’s a shame he didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to mention that without a gun in the house this would have remained what it was, a family dispute that might have cooled by morning. Instead a man is dead, allegedly at the hands of his own father. This kind of story is repeated every day in this country. So sad.
Sw says
family murder smh
Nanci Whitley says
So agree. Guns and alcohol, bad mix
Heartbroken says
I have known this family for years and they are all good people. Don’t be so quick to judge. You have no idea what happened completely that night or what this family has already been through recently. Have some respect for them during what can only be a time of unimaginable grief. My heart breaks for them.
Thomas Jefferson says
Did you read where the article says the fight started in Flagler, and the son was shot in S. Daytona. Sounds to me like the father would have done something regardless of whether, or not he had a gun. Blame the man who shot his son. Not the mindless tool he used. You want gun control go live in Chicago. See how well its working for them.
John says
Didn’t take long for someone to blame it on a gun….I’m sure alcohol played no factor. Maybe we should ban alcohol.
Peaches McGee says
@ Thomas Jefferson – please re-read the article. He was shot on South Daytona Ave, not South Daytona Beach.
Steve Robinson says
Alcohol undoubtedly was a factor, but without the presence of a gun maybe there are some broken noses and loosened teeth, but probably not a corpse.
Katie Semore says
@Thomas Jefferson, the shooting happened in Flagler Beach on South Daytona Ave. It is a Flagler County case from start to finish.
Bc. says
Yea blame the gun it’s always the gun never the nut job that would have found a way to kill him any way can think of a hrundred ways he could have killed him sorry for family may he rest with the loard JC.
Anonymous says
Please don’t hate on this family…I have known them for 17 years..BOB AND BONNIE GORE ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. YES,THEY KEPT TO THEMSELVES,BUT ALOT OF PEOPLE DO AND HOW DARE THEIR NEIGHBORS FOR TALKING NEGATIVE OF THEM ..BOB GORE IS A GOOD,HARDWORKING MAN WHO PROVIDED WE’LL FOR HIS FAMILY. THIS IS A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY…. PLEASE DEAR LORD HELP THIS FAMILY IN THEIR TIME OF GRIEF….LOVE YOU BOB AND BONNIE…
Majicshark says
South Daytona AVENUE.
Not the city of South Daytona.
All this happened in Flagler Beach.
Ben Dover says
I`m sure alcohol played a big role but the Florida legislators will never ban that ,…the people voted 71% for medical marijuana….those same legislators are now saying , you can`t smoke ,,,vape .. or eat it in edibles…so the only ones that will get any use out of it….. is them …. because the only other option is to cram it up your arse……you know ….where their heads are………
bruce says
such a tragedy, i know both john and luke gore and couldnt ask for a nicer set of twins. stop blaming anything but the fact this is horrible and my heart goes out to the family in morning. rip luke you are loved and will be missed.
LM says
Or a stabbing. Maybe we should ban the sale of all knives as well?
MS Auggie says
I am from a small town in N Fla., almost everyone, the 85 year old woman I took care of & me, my Father, his Father, etc…- has a gun
People ride with gun racks, usually with one in it, during hunting season- in their trucks.
So.. this ” If only there hadnt been a gun” theory, doesnt wash, to me.
Blame the person, not the gun. Ive had one , Ive yet to kill anything except animals, to take them out of their misery. In the country, that can cover a unique set of circumstances, not found in town.
Anonymous says
Alcohol is not the the way to calm oneself down and try to solve problems–especially problems that have to do with anger management issues (and possible domestic violence.)
Barney says
Matt Doughney could have done the murder investigation himself if the detective is out of town. Also several officers at Flagler Beach are certified to do murder investigations. I’m all behind law enforcement, but why are we paying taxes for them if they can’t handle a clear cut murder investigation.
Anonymous says
R.I.P Luke ,you will be missed truely *one of the best *
Dee K Griggs says
Agreed, don’t judge to quickly. As the old saying goes, actually there are a few
Like you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. And walk a mile in the father’s shoes. We don’t know what lead up to this.
Condolences to the entire family including the father. Glad to know that our new Sherriff, Sherriff Stayly was able to assist Flagler Beach during this time and that all departments worked together well.
Ritchie says
I knew Bob for some time. He had been through a very hard time. He lost his job of about 20+ years at Palm Coast Data in 2013. He lately had two strokes and was still recovering. His mind was not clear.
This is an immense disaster for the whole family, Bob included, and their friends and relatives.
Time will take long to heal this one.
Just Another Day says
Well, guess it’s true what they say. He brought em into this world he took em out… Bet 100:1 alcohol was involved…
Anonymous says
This is very sad! I’ve known the family for ten years now. Yes they had their problems like every family does. Please people don’t blame the gun or alcohol something else snapped in his head. What we need to do now is not blame or judge the family. Ask god for healing and forgiveness. It’s gonna be a hard one for all of them!
Veteran says
Get over it gun haters. The 2nd amendment to the US constitution gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms, and that ain’t changing in the next 4 years. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.
Cassie Klecky says
This is horrible nobody should judge because these are good people and this a extremely unfortunate tragedy my prayers are with you Bonnie and your family
Geezer says
I worked with Bob Gore at Palm Coast Data 17-18 years ago.
Bob was quiet and serious, but always a nice guy.
One day from another room in PCD, I made his CD drive’s door
open through the network. I called him as I was perpetrating this
little prank and asked him: “what do you think of your new cup-holder?”
Bob had quite the belly laugh. I enjoyed the heck out of that..
That’s one of the very few fond memories I have working at PCD.
My sympathies go out to the Gore family.
Anonymous says
People who are mentally impaired (or as one commentor put it, “not right in the head”) should not have access to firearms…period. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how something might go wrong in that scenario.
Denise haggett says
Sending prayers to the family
LONG TIME SISTA says
17 YEARS I HAVE KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND THEY WERE ALWAYS QUIET PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAD MANY FRIENDS, FOR THEM TO BE LABELED ODD, THAT WAS NOT THEM, PRIVATE IS WHAT THEY ARE., MAKES ME UPSET TO READ SOME OF THESE COMMENTS ON HERE FROM THOSE THAT ASSUME THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BREAKING THAT WORD DOWN, ASS U ME, THINK ABOUT IT, EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS IN THERE LIFE AND FOR SOME ONE TO ASSUME WHAT THOSE ARE, ARE THE ODD ONES FOR THEY DON’T KNOW., TILL ALL THE FACTS ARE ON THE TABLE, MAYBE THOSE WHO THINK THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, SHOULD TAKE A LONG LOOK AT THEMSELVES, FOR MAYBE THEY ARE ALSO THE ODD ONES, THEY ARE MY FRIENDS, ODD OR NOT, THEY STILL ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE!!!!!
palmcoaster says
I can’t believe some post here blaming the alcohol….oh yeah the alcohol killed the young man..? Maybe the incoming marijuana approval too…? BULLETS FROM A GUN in the wrong hands during a domestic argument killed this 31 years old! In the absence of a GUN this 31 years old would still be alive! Lest stop distorting facts in favor of the NRA and its fans!
Anonymous says
I agree. Guns do their work and they are made to kill just as nukes are made to kill.
JasonB says
Guns don’t kill people, angry drunk people with with guns kill people.
truth says
lol @ people saying guns dont kill people. THIS MAN WAS KILLED BY A GUN
Richard Smith says
Knives kill people too just like axes, hatches, screwdrivers, hammers, crowbars, tire irons, swords, fireplace pokers. Should I continue with other lethal weapons found in any home? You people that believe guns kill people versus the person pulling the trigger and are proponents to get rid of them, you need to get a life! Maybe you should protest to get rid of all of the items listed above TOO!
Casey says
Pretty pathetic that people in these comments as some sort of bizzare argument for gun control. This guy would have ended up dead most likely even without guns being involved, additionally there are also obviously issues here that extend beyond firearms. Get your head’s out of your asses. Cars kill more people every year than anything else in this country should we ban those?
Sad says
I only knew Luke and John through the pool leagues. They were nice guys that never gave us a bit of trouble. I’m saddened by this terrible tragedy as I know Lukes family and friends are. Please keep negative comments to urself. RIP Luke. You will be missed.
Anonymous says
Alcohol can kill. It always has and it always will. No one knows who will have a problem with it and who won’t–or why some people can drink like fishes and have no issues while those who only drink once in a while have problems every time they drink. It may not seem fair but that’s the truth. Alcohol should never be used as a “medication” to calm oneself down or pick oneself up out of a depression. That is asking for trouble. Add firearms on top of it and it is a recipe for disaster. And anyone who reacts with rage to the mere idea that anyone should dare blame alcohol for problems and stories like this should examine the reasons behind their own defensiveness about alcohol.
Thomas Jefferson says
I see now where it says Daytona ave, but still my point is where there is a will theres a way. The man made up his mind to kill his son. The gun just happened to be the tool he chose. The gun didnt kill this man. A drunk with a gun killed this man. This isnt a gun issue. How many people own firearms, and never ever shoot another person with it? The vast majority. He will pay dearly for his crime. That is how we handle criminals in this country. If he ever sees the light of day again (he wont)he will never be able to own another gun. That is reasonable, and righteous justice. Bitching about guns takes the responsibility off the person who committed the crime.
Wishful Thinking says
I hate guns. I hate drunks with guns even more. Without this deadly combination would this have just been a domestic family argument?
The second amendment needs some regulation . It is out of control – just my two cents. No punishment will ever equal the mental torture the father must feel and will feel until the day he dies for what he did. My prayers are with the family.
odd ball i am says
I know this couple for many many yrs and they are very private people NOT ODD at all . Nobody knows what goes on in anyone’s home and should keep there assumptions to themselves. We all have our problems and some are pushed beyond limits. They are my FRIENDS and always will be. This is just a tragedy and people need to stop jumping to conclusions.
Jerelyn Daly sissi says
It is the most horrible reading I have ever done with these bullshit comments about people you don’t even know! There is a friendship of approx 50 people that all loved this family. Bob, Bonnie and their 3 kids!! When you write about them, you only show your ignorance. As both these parents took care of their kids. All you strangers, should just write. Prayers. We as friends lived them. And they are family!! Do not disrespect them at this time!! I send love to Bonnie and Bob, and prayers to Bob. How heart wrenching he must feel!! From the family of FlGler Beach. Hugs and love to the Gore family and friends.
Notime0075 says
I just have to say…adult children should not live in their parents homes past 25. Enough already. I recently got my 27 yr old to move out. Its ridiculous. I own my home. I pay the bills. I clean n do all the chores. I never charged rent. But I had to stop enabling my grown children. I was at a point of feeling suicidal n having bad thoughts about them. I did it for so long bc i felt bad for being a single mom raising3 kids. But something had to give. I prayed and he found a hob and recently moved out. He wont be back. I need my sanity.
Dee K Griggs says
I, just turned into The Voice, one of the songs tonight, Monday May 1st is: A Towne Without PzPitty, it made me think of a number of Comments read here. What a Pitty A Towne Without Pitty Can Be. This gentleman 74 years of age, two strokes, an argument with a 31 year old son. A shooting his entire family and family friends have to live through.
Prayers please for all of them. Once again I don’t know the family the friends. I am just saying this is a tragedy and heartbreaking situation that almost anyone could find themself in one day.
Richard Smith says
For those individuals against having law abiding citizens having ANY guns, what would be YOUR plan on how to get rid of illegal guns held by criminals, felons and anyone that should NEVER have a weapon?………………….Yeah right, there is NO plan and if it were up to you the ONLY people left with guns are the ones that shouldn’t have them in the first place.
out of town person says
I have to agree with what the Long Time Sista say”s….People don’t know what really happened in this situation we all can assume nobody should judge …This was a really good family and yes they kept to themselves there is nothing wrong with that..This hit the community really hard as too for the family and everyone involved..I have known Bonnie and Bob for a while and they are very good people…My thoughts and Prayers go out to the whole Gore family..Please Bonnie stay close to your friends stay strong …My heart goes out to you and of course Bob..You are loved Bonnie by a lot of people and so is Bob..We do care ..So please take care of yourself and May God Bless Bonnie and the Gore Family..
Concerned says
Have any of the Gores’ friends been able to speak to Bonnie????
sadness says
may everyone on here who feesl that there negative opinon on here really means something look in the mirrior before u judge