Fremont man in his 90s charged with wife's murder

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Richard Hocking's booking photo courtesy the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

FREMONT, Calif. - The 93-year-old Fremont man, who turned himself in to authorities over the weekend for killing his wife, has been charged with murder, the district attorney's office says.

Elderly domestic violence

What we know:

Richard Hocking was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office on Monday. The D.A., Ursula Jones Dickson, said Hocking's charge includes a sentencing enhancement for the intentional use of a firearm.

According to the complaint, Hocking shot and killed his 86-year-old wife in Fremont on Saturday with "malice and aforethought."

The backstory:

Hocking, turned himself in to Fremont police just after midnight on Saturday.

Officers found Hocking at the police department parking lot in the 5000 block of Mowry Avenue. His wife was found in the front passenger seat of the car, suffering from a gunshot wound.

His wife, Patricia, was pronounced dead at the scene. Hocking was arrested immediately and provided a statement to the police. Police did not elaborate on his statement. He was then booked into jail.

KTVU has learned Hocking allegedly told police his wife's killing was necessary because she was struggling with health issues. He allegedly shot her in the head in a Ford Transit van, according to police and the D.A.'s office. Hocking told police he had been planning to kill his wife for about a month. He left home with her, "knowing that he was going to kill her," officials said.

What's next:

Hocking will be arraigned on Tuesday at 9 a.m., according to the district attorney's office.

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