Family speaks after police say Federal Way minister shot son

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — The Federal Way man accused of shooting his son appeared in court on Monday where a judge set his bond at $1 million following Sunday's violence.

Sherman Roland faces charges for assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the Federal Way Police Department, Roland shot his son twice in the stomach around 10 a.m. Sunday morning following a dispute. The shooting occurred at the Arcadia Townhomes in Federal Way on 1300 Southwest Campus Dr.

Family members identified the son as Putney Roland, 26. Roland remains in critical condition and is still unconscious at Harborview Medical Center. He has received four surgeries so far, but his family fears he won't make a full recovery.

"I just want to see him alert. To see him smile or talk to me, to do something," said the victim's mother, Tisa Roland.

Tisa Roland said she witnessed her husband shooting her son but doesn't know what sparked the violence because the argument they had seemed minor.

"It was so petty, it was nothing," she said.  "It was about getting a ride to the store. I'm flabbergasted, it's just unbelievable."

A judge ordered that Sherman Roland not have any contact with his family during the course of the investigation. Tisa said she never would have imagined her husband could shoot her son.

"He's a minister and he does a lot for this community," she said.  "It's just unbelievable, I never saw this coming."

A fundraiser has been set up to help the Roland family pay for Putney's medical expenses:

The shooting occurred at the suspect's daughter's home in Federal Way. Family members say the daughter is now being evicted from her residence, even though police say she was an innocent party in the incident. KIRO 7 reached out to Arcadia Townhomes but representatives could not explain why.

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