Spring Valley Man Arrested on Suspicion of Fatally Shooting His Stepson

Authorities released the name Tuesday afternoon of a Paradise Hills man gunned down outside his home on Labor Day, allegedly by his 75-year-old stepfather.

Calvert Daniel, 54, died about 10:30 a.m. Monday at the scene of the shooting in the 5500 block of Potomac Street, according to San Diego police.

The gunfire erupted after Thomas Blease Bethel of Spring Valley confronted Daniel, his stepson, about damage Bethel's car had sustained at the younger man's residence the previous day, SDPD Sgt. David Dolan said.

During an ensuing argument, Daniel grabbed a crowbar and hit his stepfather on the head with it, Dolan alleged. Bethel then allegedly pulled a pistol and shot Daniel at least once.

After receiving hospital treatment for his injury, Bethel was questioned by detectives and arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. He was booked into county jail and was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

At the time of the shooting, Bethel was angry because the tires of his vehicle had been flattened after he loaned it to someone to visit Daniel, according to Dolan. Bethel apparently blamed his stepson for the vandalism, the sergeant said.

– City News Service