Man charged with killing stepfather in Gilbert after Christmas meal

A 48-year-old man has been arrested and charged with shooting his 80-year-old stepfather on Christmas Day, police said Monday.

Michael Kaser was taken into custody after this stepfather was found dead inside a vehicle about 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 25, according to authorities.

Gilbert police responded to a report that a vehicle had backed into a home near Recker and Warner roads. There, they found the victim with gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no other reported injuries.

Officers contacted a male relative of the victim who had come out of a nearby home “and made statements about the shooting,” police said in a release.

The man, Kaser, was taken into custody.

“Through the subsequent investigation and witness statements, it was alleged that Kaser had shot his stepfather upon returning from a family dinner,” police said.

Kaser faces one count of first-degree murder, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.