Man shot brother as family mourned dad, say police

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - The Tarpon Springs Police Department is closely monitoring the condition of a man they believe fell victim to his own brother's gunfire Monday evening.

John Stavrakis, 53, is in critical condition at Bayfront hospital after detectives claim his brother, Phillip, 54, shot him multiple times while family gathered at their parents' home to mourn the loss of their father. The men started fighting at Phillip's adjoining apartment around 5pm Monday when words turned violent.

"And that's when the incident occurred with the gun being taken out and Phillip shooting John," explained Cpt. Jeff Young.

Bayflight rushed John to the hospital.

While crime scene investigators combed through the yard at 406 Grand Boulevard, detectives combed multiple counties looking for Phillip. They have yet to release any information about why the brothers were fighting, or any past history of violence between the two.

"Anytime somebody's distraught like that and causes this type of injury to a loved one, you don't know what they're capable of doing beyond that," Cpt. Young said.

Using cell phone coordinates, Hernando County Sheriff's deputies located him at a Budget Inn in Brooksville Tuesday morning where they arrested him without incident. According to an obituary, Phillip's arrest comes on the day of his father's viewing and the day before his funeral.

Phillip faces a charge of attempted murder, but if his brother does not recover, that charge will be upgraded to murder.

"We still have to worry about the condition of John, the brother in the hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and with John, that he makes a full recovery here," said Cpt. Young.