Son accused of stabbing, killing father

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - A Portsmouth man has been charged with stabbing his 75-year-old father to death this morning in the basement of Portsmouth police headquarters.

Franklin R. Lancaster was on his way to the magistrate to get a restraining order against his son, Michael Lancaster, 54. The two argued in a hallway of the magistrate's office, which is in the police station's basement, police said.

The son stabbed his father several times in the upper body, police said. An unidentified police officer came upon the scene, finding the father bleeding from  the chest and the son with blood on his hands, Portsmouth police spokeswoman Jan Westerbeck said.

The elder Lancaster was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident took place in a public part of the building at the south end of the courthouse complex, facing Columbia Street. People entering are not screened with metal detectors.

Franklin Lancaster lived in the 2100 block of Parker Avenue, while his son Michael lives in the 1700 block of Richmond Avenue. He has been charged with first-degree murder.