LOUISVILLE, KY – A Kentucky man faces murder charges following the discovery of a bomb under his father’s car and the fatal shooting of his father on Wednesday morning. Brandon Thomas McQuillen, 43, is being held in connection with the death of his father, John Thomas McQuillen, 65, a former reserve deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities were alerted to the scene in Middletown around 7:30 a.m. when they discovered the elder McQuillen suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1200 block of Winter Springs.
Despite urgent medical intervention, John McQuillen was pronounced dead at the hospital. Nearby, police discovered a suspicious package and called in a bomb squad, which safely detonated the device.
Investigators linked an old ambulance to the crime, suspecting it was used by Brandon McQuillen during the murder. A search into the vehicle and his home yielded an AR-15 rifle and materials that could be used to make explosives. Adding to the gravity of their findings were handwritten notes indicating an alleged motive to kill his father.
Witnesses in the area reported seeing police apprehend the younger McQuillen while he occupied the old ambulance less than two miles from the crime scene. Greg Whitaker, a worker in the vicinity, recalled spotting the ambushed vehicle and being approached by Brandon, who explained he was experiencing engine trouble.
A neighbor, Wendy Wilburn, described witnessing the police operation to arrest the suspect. She recounted how officers broke a vehicle window and deployed smoke bombs before bringing the suspect out.
The relationship between the McQuillens had been troubled, with evidence of emergency protection orders being filed by both parties in recent years, according to court documents. Brandon McQuillen’s prior criminal record includes a conviction for kidnapping, during which he reportedly kept an ex-girlfriend restrained for 12 hours.
Now, in addition to charges for the murder of his father, Brandon faces additional charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and a violation of the emergency protection order. He is currently detained at the Jefferson County Jail with a bond set at $1 million as the investigation continues.