Jury convicts Billy Forte of killing his son over their business

They argued over the management of Eaves Formal Wear before 2018 shooting

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A jury has found 71 year old Billy Norman Forte guilty of killing his son.

Prosecutors said the elder Forte shot Charles in April of 2018 at Eaves Formal Wear on Creekside Road.

They were arguing over management of the business which was in bankruptcy.

The father owned Eaves and his son helped him manage it.

An employee testified that she saw Billy Forte go get a shotgun, shoot his son in the head with it, then turned it on her and told her to leave.

The defense claimed he shot his son in self-defense, fearing that Charles was going to shoot him.

But no other gun was found at the scene.

Prosecutors played surviellence video of the incident showing Billy Forte claiming “I feel liberated. I killed in Vietnam. I killed Viet Cong, and I never felt liberated, but I feel liberated now.”

Forte will be sentenced in May.