On a summer evening in Madison, Wisconsin, a dispute over a trivial amount of money irrevocably shattered a family. Zachary S. Shively, a 25-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot on July 22, 2023, in his residence on Warner Street. The tragic event stemmed from a heated argument with his father, 64-year-old John C. Shively, that began over a request for just twenty-five cents.
The day had started with the father and son attending a family gathering, but they returned
home after an argument about money began. The disagreement continued at their home, where Zachary asked his father for $2.50. John initially said he had no cash but then gave his son $2. He told detectives he was behind on mortgage payments and other taxes and was reluctant to give his son money, a frequent request. When Zachary insisted he needed the additional 25 cents, the verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation. Zachary allegedly punched and pushed his father, causing him to hit his head. As John tried to walk upstairs, Zachary reportedly pulled him back down.
In a moment that would turn fatal, John grabbed a pistol that belonged to his son, which had been left on one of the bottom steps. He later told police he picked up the weapon thinking it would make his son back down, but it did not. As Zachary approached him, John fired a single shot "point blank" that struck his son in the heart and aorta. Realizing what he had done, John immediately expressed deep remorse and called for someone in the house to dial 911, and he also made a call to emergency services himself. When officers arrived, they found Zachary deceased inside the home and took his father into custody without incident.
John C. Shively was arrested and initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide and use of a dangerous weapon. He told investigators he couldn't express how much he regretted picking up the gun and had only wanted the confrontation to end. In February 2025, the case reached its legal conclusion when John Shively pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. He avoided jail time and was instead sentenced to 10 years of probation for the shooting death of his son.
