Dakota Brent Hughes

An Eau Claire man, charged with homicide, told a county 911 dispatcher and state police Thursday, March 2 that he shot the victim in his East Main Street home.

Dakota Brent Hughes, 22, is being held in Butler County Prison without bail for allegedly shooting Seth Thomas Gooden Smith, 27, of Polk, Venango County, who was in a relationship with Hughes’ mother.

Smith suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m. in the home Hughes shares with his mother.

Police said they discovered through their investigation that the shooting altercation could have resulted from previous domestic issues between Hughes’ mother and Smith.

In an affidavit, police said Hughes called 911 around 7:38 p.m. and reported that he shot Smith, and that he was outside of the house and the gun he used was in his pickup truck, which was parked outside. He also told 911 that the 9 mm firearm he used was his and was registered, according to the affidavit.

Responding troopers found Smith lying on the dining room floor with gunshot wounds to his chest and groin area, and found multiple empty shell casings around the body, according to the affidavit. A black pistol was sitting in plain view on the center console in the truck, police said.

During an interview at the police station, Hughes said that Smith was in a relationship with his mother. He told police that after Smith entered the home with his mother, he told Smith he was not welcome in the home and to leave. Hughes said Smith approached him, and he shot Smith multiple times, according to the affidavit.

First deputy county coroner John Hanovick said Smith died from gunshot wounds and the preliminary manner of death is homicide, but an autopsy will be conducted Saturday.

Hughes’ preliminary hearing is scheduled March 14 before District Judge Lewis Stoughton in Chicora.