Arizona Woman Arrested for Shooting Son Over Loud Video Game Noise

Hazel Benson

A 72-year-old woman in Mesa, Arizona, has been arrested after allegedly shooting her adult son during a dispute over loud video games in their shared home. Hazel Benson faces charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits following the incident on Saturday night.

According to police reports, Benson called 911 to report that she had shot at her 38-year-old son and discarded the firearm in a nearby canal. She stated she wasn’t sure if he had been hit when she pulled the trigger. Officers responding to the call found the man outside the residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was transported to the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

Court documents reveal that about an hour before the shooting, Benson had contacted police to complain about the noise from her son’s video gaming. She was reportedly upset that the volume was too high. During that initial call, responding officers informed her that her son had a legal right to be in the home since he lived there as well.

After the initial police visit, the son left the house to take a walk and cool down. When he returned, Benson allegedly blocked him from reentering the home. She told officers that as her son approached her with "his hands in fists at his waistline," she raised the gun and fired. She was unsure whether the shot had made contact at the time.

Police say Benson made a second 911 call after her son began "pounding" on the back door, confirming she had fired the weapon.

The firearm used in the incident has not yet been recovered. Authorities have not released the name of the victim.