Arizona woman shoots son after video game dispute, court docs say

MESA, Ariz. — A Mesa woman has been arrested after she allegedly shot her son over a dispute that he was too loud while playing video games, according to court documents.

The Mesa Police Department said the shooting happened on Saturday at around 8:50 p.m. near Higley Road and Main Street.

Hazel Benson, 72, was arrested in connection with the shooting.

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The 38-year-old victim was shot in the abdomen and has non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Benson is facing charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and discharge of a firearm within city limits.

According to court documents, when police responded to reports of the incident, Benson told officers that she shot at her son and threw the gun in a canal after the shooting. She said she didn’t know if she had hit him when she fired the gun, and that he was at the back door of her home. Officers found the victim outside the home with a gunshot wound to his stomach.

Court documents said prior to the shooting, there a call for service to the home at around 7:45 p.m. At that time, officers found that Benson was upset because the victim was being loud while playing video games.

At this time, the victim went for a walk to “calm down.” Officers informed Benson that the victim had “legal standing” at the home.

Documents said the victim later returned to the home. Benson told officers she blocked him from coming into the home. He then lunged toward her with “his hands in fists at his waistline.” Benson told officers she raised the gun and fired it but didn’t know if the victim had been shot. Then, a short time later the victim came back again and was “pounding” on the back door. Benson called 911.

Other details about the shooting were not released.

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