BELL, Fla. — Action News has learned that Don Spirit, who is suspected of killing himself, his daughter and six grandchildren on Thursday, was sentenced to three years in prison for killing his son in 2001.
The 2001 shooting was ruled an accident.
Don Spirit initially told police that while hunting near Kissimmee he pointed out some rust on his rifle, which then went off. A bullet hit his 8-year-old son, Kyle, in the head.
Don Spirit pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon just before he was supposed to go on trial in 2003.
He was convicted in 1998 of felony possession of marijuana and was found guilty in 1995 for depriving a child of food or shelter.
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