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Harold Free was 59 when he shot his stepson in the head during a late-night argument at the family's home in Shreveport, Louisiana. The gunshot was captured on a 911 recording that prosecutors later played for the jury that convicted him of murder.

According to KSLA and KTBS news reports and Caddo Parish court records, the shooting happened around 11 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2010, at a house in the 6700 block of Jefferson Paige Road. Detectives said Free shot 21-year-old Terry "TJ" Johniken once in the head with a handgun. Johniken was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died the following day.

Prosecutors said the killing was deliberate. At trial, prosecutor Dale Cox told jurors that Free said, "Turn around boy, I got something for you," moments before firing. Cox said Free told Johniken's mother afterward, "I'll just say he was a burglar." Johniken's mother testified the same day the 911 audio was played in court.

Free claimed he acted in self-defense. His attorney told the court that Johniken had assaulted Free on earlier occasions, including one attack that sent Free to the hospital, and argued that Free feared for his safety on the night of the shooting.

On Aug. 23, 2012, a Caddo Parish jury rejected the self-defense account and found Free guilty of second-degree murder after deliberating about 90 minutes. The conviction carried an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole.

Free appealed, arguing the mandatory life term was excessive because he had no prior criminal record and suffered from health problems. On Dec. 4, 2013, Louisiana's Second Circuit Court of Appeal rejected the claims and upheld the sentence.