In the early hours of a Tuesday in Philadelphia, a domestic disturbance shattered the quiet of a West Oak Lane neighborhood, leaving an elderly father and his son dead. Arnim Ainsworth Callender, an 83-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot on February 11, 2020. The tragic event unfolded in the basement of his son's home on the 2000 block of East Walnut Lane.
The person responsible for Arnim's death was his own son, 62-year-old Anslem Callender.
In a shocking admission to authorities, Anslem claimed he killed his father and his 59-year-old brother, Ancil Callender, because he believed they were 'possessed'. It was Anslem himself who contacted 911 shortly after 12:30 a.m. to report the killings. When police arrived, they found him sitting in a chair, and he peacefully surrendered. His confession was reportedly captured on the officers' body-worn cameras.
Investigators discovered that both Arnim and Ancil had been shot multiple times with a 9mm handgun and a shotgun. A number of shell casings and the weapons were recovered at the scene. The violent outburst occurred after the family had returned from a cousin's funeral in Baltimore. Neighbors expressed their shock, describing the incident as completely out of character for the family they knew.
Following his confession and arrest at the scene, Anslem Callender was charged with murder and related offenses for the deaths of his father, Arnim Ainsworth Callender, and his brother, Ancil.
