Police in Nebraska said they arrested and charged a father with gunning down his 10-year-old son on Thanksgiving night.

Omaha police said they took Will McDonald, 47, into custody on homicide and gun charges in connection to the shooting death of 10-year-old Kendrick McDonald.

Authorities said officers responded to a report shortly after 11:30 p.m. Thursday and found the boy suffering from a gunshot wound.

Kendrick was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died, police said.

Omaha Police Capt. Jeremy Christensen told the Omaha World-Herald that a car alarm may have precipitated the deadly incident.

“We do know that there was allegedly a car alarm going off, and for whatever reason, the suspect/father went outside to maybe investigate that. We’re not 100% on that, but we are receiving information that a car alarm was going off,” Capt. Christensen told the newspaper. “As to exactly what transpired and the why of it, we’re still trying to piece that together through our investigation.”

Mr. McDonald has served time on robbery and theft convictions.

He is being held without bond at the Douglas County Jail. Prosecutors were expected to file formal charges on Sunday.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.