Deputies said four people were shot during a family dispute at a home near Royal Palm Beach.
ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL — A 29-year-old man was jailed without bond Wednesday after deputies said he opened fire during a family dispute near Royal Palm Beach, killing his grandfather and wounding three other people.
Thomas Faferko-Schmedes faces one count of first-degree premeditated murder and three counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder in the Tuesday afternoon shooting, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The case drew wide attention because all four victims knew the suspect, deputies said, and because court records show earlier law enforcement calls tied to family conflicts. Investigators said the shooting remains active, with detectives still reviewing evidence and witness statements.
Deputies were called shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday to the 4600 block of Coconut Boulevard, an area west of Royal Palm Beach in unincorporated Palm Beach County. The first reports described multiple people shot at a home. Michael Greene, a neighbor, said he heard one gunshot, then screams, then more shots seconds later. “I heard a gunshot, sounded like a rifle,” Greene said. “Heard somebody scream and another shot within two seconds.” Deputies later said the shooting began after an argument inside the home escalated. They found one male victim inside the residence and later identified him as the suspect’s grandfather, Thomas Faferko.
Faferko had a gunshot wound to the head and was taken to a hospital, where he died, deputies said. Three others were also hospitalized. Investigators said one male victim had wounds to the neck and shoulder and underwent emergency surgery. Another victim had wounds to the neck and upper body and was listed in critical condition. A female victim had more superficial gunshot or pellet wounds to the chest and neck and was listed in stable condition. Deputies said two victims tried to escape in a vehicle but crashed nearby. Another victim ran along Coconut Boulevard and received help from a resident.
When deputies reached the scene, they found Faferko-Schmedes outside the home with a shotgun, according to an arrest affidavit described by investigators. Deputies said he followed commands to drop the weapon and was taken into custody without further violence. A witness inside the home told investigators that Faferko-Schmedes had a large gun and was shooting at people inside the residence. Deputies also said a firearm was recovered nearby, though investigators had not said whether it was the weapon used in the shooting. Authorities have not released a full list of the victims’ names, and the final medical status of the surviving victims was not immediately clear Thursday.
Investigators said the suspect appeared to be in a mental health crisis after his arrest. Deputies said Faferko-Schmedes made erratic statements while detained, including claims about military service and other unrelated subjects, and detectives did not conduct a formal interview because of those statements. A family friend told deputies the suspect had recently made threats toward family members, but the threats may not have been taken seriously because of his mental health history. One neighbor, who said she had heard yelling at the home before, said the shooting left her sad and shaken. “I can kind of sense that there was a little off-ness with him,” she said.
Records cited by investigators show deputies had responded to earlier family disputes involving Faferko-Schmedes. In 2022, deputies said an argument with his grandfather over dog feces in the home escalated into a confrontation in which Faferko-Schmedes allegedly pointed a handgun at him. He was charged then with aggravated assault with a firearm and battery on a person 65 or older. In 2025, relatives told deputies he threatened to shoot and kill his family during a disturbance at a home in Loxahatchee. Deputies said that call involved reports of paranoia, threats and a rifle, and that Faferko-Schmedes was later taken into custody on an aggravated assault charge.
Faferko-Schmedes appeared briefly in court Wednesday, where a judge ordered him held without bond. Jail records show he was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail after the shooting. The murder charge is tied to his grandfather’s death, while the attempted murder charges relate to the three surviving victims. Prosecutors had not announced any additional charges by Thursday. The case will move next through early court filings, discovery and future hearings, with one reported court date set for July 23. Investigators are expected to continue reviewing physical evidence, medical reports and witness accounts from the home and surrounding neighborhood.
The shooting stunned neighbors along Coconut Boulevard, where several residents said they knew the family or had seen signs of conflict before the gunfire. Greene said he came outside after hearing shots and saw a wounded man running down the street. “I lived here 26 years,” Greene said, describing the man as someone he recognized from the area. Another neighbor said residents were shocked by the violence because the street is normally quiet. Deputies said there was no continuing threat to the public after Faferko-Schmedes was detained at the scene.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remained active Thursday. Faferko-Schmedes remained in custody without bond, and the surviving victims’ recoveries remained a key part of the case as prosecutors prepared for the next court steps.
Author note: Last updated June 25, 2026.