Domestic incident leads to felony charges for father and son

Russell (left) and Michael

LINCOLN, Del. – Delaware State Police arrested a father and son Sunday evening on felony assault and weapons charges following a domestic incident.

At around 6 p.m., troopers responded to a residence in the 22000 block of Pine Haven Road in Lincoln for a reported domestic. On arrival, troopers contacted 36-year-old Michael Rosetta in the front yard of a neighboring residence, who reported that he was in a fight with his father, 59-year-old Russell Rosetta, and that he was inside of the trailer with a gun.

Michael was detained, and contact was made with Russell inside of his residence. Troopers observed that Russell has sustained several lacerations to the head from the incident.

Further investigation revealed that the two had gotten into a physical altercation inside of the residence, during which Russell was severely injured by Michael and went into the shed to get a gun. Once in possession of the shotgun, Michael reportedly took it from Russell and hit him in the head with it multiple times. Troopers later found the 12 gauge shotgun used in the incident in a field behind the residence.

A computer check revealed that both men were convicted felons and are prohibited from possessing a weapon. Russell received medical treatment at the scene, but refused treatment once taken to a nearby hospital.

Russell was subsequently charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, aggravated menacing, terroristic threatening, failure to comply with taking of photos and fingerprints, possession of a firearm while under the influence, and offensive touching. He was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $9,350 secured bond.

Michael was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, and second degree assault. He was later released on a $7,000 unsecured bond.