In the quiet community of Oak Park, Michigan, a devastating series of events unfolded just two days after Christmas in 2019, shattering the holiday peace for one family. Inside their shared home, 74-year-old Mary Boles was tragically killed in a violent encounter that also left her son fighting for his life. The alleged assailant was a member of their own family, Mary's 22-year-old grandson, Robert Boles.
The horrific incident occurred on a Friday afternoon.
According to police reports, Robert Boles opened fire on his grandmother and his 55-year-old father, also named Robert Boles. The elder Robert Boles, despite being shot at least five times, managed to call 911 for help. When Oak Park police officers arrived at the home, they discovered Mary Boles deceased, having been shot six times. They then located her son in the basement, critically injured but still alive.
Following the shooting, the younger Robert Boles reportedly drove to Allen Park where he contacted authorities and confessed to the shootings. He was subsequently arrested and faced multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder for the death of his grandmother and assault with intent to murder for the attack on his father.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, the suspected shooter was arraigned and remanded to the Oakland County Jail. At the time of his arrest, a clear motive for the violent outburst had not been established by investigators. The family tragedy left a community in shock and a father hospitalized in critical condition, grappling with the loss of his mother at the hands of his own son.
