Thompson Claims Self-Defense in Brothers’ Killings; Phone Calls Contradict

This article looks at the tragic shooting of two brothers at a remote hunting camp in Allegany County, New York. The case is grabbing attention in Connecticut, especially since one of the victims lived there for years and the surviving brother now faces two counts of second-degree murder.

The story has become a cautionary tale about family conflict, guns, and the limits of self-defense—something that hits home from Hartford to New Haven, and from Bridgeport to New London.

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Family Hunting Trip Ends in Deadly Gunfire

What started as a family gathering at a rustic hunting camp on Botsford Hollow Road in rural Allegany County turned violent late on a Sunday night. Authorities say a fight broke out between three brothers, ending when 65-year-old Scot Thompson of Englewood, Florida, fired a rifle.

He fatally shot his brothers, David E. Thompson, 69, of Florida, and Mark B. Thompson, 70, of Connecticut. Police found one inside the cabin and the other in the doorway—details that really show how fast everything went wrong.

Victims Include a Connecticut Brother

The loss of Mark B. Thompson, a 70-year-old from Connecticut, brings the tragedy closer to home for many here. Officials haven’t released his specific hometown, but the shock is rippling through places like Stamford and Norwalk, where family hunting trips are pretty common.

Connecticut families who often travel out of state for hunting are watching the case closely. They see their own traditions reflected in a tragedy that began as just another camp outing among brothers.

Charges: Second-Degree Murder and Criminal Use of a Firearm

After the shootings, prosecutors acted fast. Scot Thompson now faces:

Two counts of second-degree murder

Two counts of criminal use of a firearm

He’s being held in the Allegany County Jail with no bail set at his arraignment. That alone shows how seriously the court views these charges.

Self-Defense Claim Under Scrutiny

At his arraignment, Thompson claimed self-defense, telling the court he fired after a physical fight broke out. Self-defense claims always get picked apart in homicide cases, and District Attorney Ian Jones says his office is already digging into Thompson’s account.

Legal experts in Connecticut, including defense attorneys and former prosecutors from places like Waterbury and Danbury, point out that claiming self-defense is just the start. Prosecutors have to prove whether Thompson acted as a victim or as the aggressor in what might be a long-standing family feud.

Long-Standing Family Feud at the Center

Authorities say the Thompson brothers were caught up in a long-standing family dispute, but they haven’t shared many details yet. In situations like this, history matters—a jury will want to know about past threats, old confrontations, or any calls to law enforcement before this.

For families across Connecticut, whether in West Hartford or along the coast in Milford, the story feels like a warning about what can happen when tensions simmer for years and guns are nearby.

Subpoenaed Phone Records and Family Interviews

Investigators are working to piece together what led up to the shooting. After the gunfire:

Thompson allegedly left the scene in David’s red 2019 Dodge Ram

He called his son and then his sister-in-law

He later surrendered to police in Geneseo, New York

Prosecutors are now subpoenaing phone records and talking to family members. They want to know if there was any premeditation, which could really change how a jury sees motive and intent.

Multi-Agency Investigation Underway

Multiple agencies, including the New York State Police and Allegany County law enforcement, are on the case. Investigators are collecting forensic evidence from the cabin, trying to reconstruct the fight, and interviewing witnesses and relatives.

District Attorney Ian Jones says the charges fit the case and his office plans to pursue it aggressively, even with Thompson claiming self-defense. This could turn into a high-stakes courtroom battle that keeps Connecticut watching.

Why Connecticut Residents Are Watching Closely

This case touches on issues that hit close to home for a lot of us in Connecticut—family tensions, aging siblings, guns, and those out-of-state hunting trips. Folks from Hartford to New Haven probably know someone who heads north every fall to hunt, fish, or just unwind at a family camp that’s been around forever.

The Thompson case has people wondering: Who really started the fight? Was it actually a life-or-death situation? Did that old family feud make things worse? Investigators are digging into it, and eventually, a jury will have to sort it all out.

Here is the source article for this story: Murder case: Thompson claims self-defense in killing his brothers, phone calls might prove otherwise

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