MO Man Nicholas Smoot Charged In Fatal Golf Club Beating Of Father Eric At Hillsboro Home

HILLSBORO, MO. (THECOUNT) — Nicholas Smoot has been identified as the suspect arrested and charged over the Thursday golf club beating death of his father, 53-year-old Eric Smoot, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Nicholas Smoot, 27, beat his father to death with a golf club in Hillsboro early Thursday morning, as his dad tried to break up a fight between the suspect and his girlfriend.

Nicholas Smoot is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and domestic assault following the Thursday morning incident in Hillsboro, reports KMOV.

The fatal incident occurred at 1000 Tracy Lane, in Hillsboro around 3:15 a.m. Thursday morning.

According to the sheriff’s department, Nicholas Smoot was involved in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend when his father tried to intervene.

Police later said Smoot’s girlfriend suffered injuries to her head and arms, reports MOV.

Police said Smoot forced his girlfriend down on a bed and floor and physically assaulted her, biting her right forearm and her nose.

Eric Smoot tried to intervene when the suspect beat him with a golf club, authorities said.

Police said Nicholas Smoot hit his father twice in the stomach and was holding a bottle over his father’s body when police entered the room.

Eric Smoot was pronounced dead around 6 a.m. at the hospital.

Nicholas Smoot was arrested by deputies at the scene and was later charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and second-degree domestic assault.

Both men reportedly lived at the home.

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Geo quick facts: Hillsboro is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,821 at the 2010 census. Hillsboro is the county seat of Jefferson County – Wikipedia.