Son ‘erupted’ after Wi-Fi router moved to mom’s room and he couldn’t play video games all day
Inset: William Bushey. Background: William Bushey's shotgun that he used to blast his mom, sister and nephew being shown in court (KFMB/YouTube).
A California man who killed his sister and nephew with a shotgun—while seriously wounding his mother—after a dispute over a Wi-Fi router has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
William Bushey, 61, was handed two life sentences Wednesday in San Diego County for the 2024 shootings at his family’s Point Loma home. Prosecutors described Bushey’s actions as “savage and ruthless” after he retrieved a shotgun he had purchased in 2012 and kept hidden.
According to the District Attorney’s office, the violence erupted after family members moved a Wi-Fi router out of Bushey’s bedroom, where he frequently played video games. “Bushey confronted his family about the Wi-Fi being turned off, then went into his bedroom, retrieved the shotgun, loaded it to maximum capacity, and went after his family,” the DA’s office said. Six rounds were fired as his mother and sister tried to escape toward the back patio.
A San Diego jury convicted Bushey of first-degree murder for killing his sister, Laurie Robinson, 61, and her son, Brett Robinson, 33. His mother, June Bushey, 86, survived but suffered severe injuries, including the loss of three fingers.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello noted that tension in the household had been building for years. Bushey had lived with his elderly mother for over a decade, contributed little to the household, and had limited contact with family members. The DA’s office said the situation escalated when his sister moved in, and police had been called twice for disturbances in the home. By the day of the shootings, the family was preparing to evict him and had ordered a home surveillance system.
During the trial, June Bushey told jurors she “ran like hell” as her son opened fire, with neighbors urging her to stay down. Prosecutors said Bushey’s frustration over the Wi-Fi relocation triggered the deadly outburst.
Bushey’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Denis Lainez, argued that decades of emotional turmoil, depression, and a recent HIV diagnosis contributed to his client’s violent behavior. Lainez told the court that Bushey was “filled with rage” and did not intend to harm his mother, claiming the gun discharged during a struggle with his nephew.
In addition to the life sentences, Bushey was ordered to serve 82 more years in prison. At sentencing, family members addressed him directly. Kyle Robinson, twin brother of Brett Robinson, told Bushey, “We would not have let you be homeless. We would not have tried to make your life miserable. Instead of accepting empathy, you stewed in resentment toward us for no good reason.”
Bushey reportedly remained silent during the hearing. His mother responded, saying, “You can’t even face us, can you? What you have done has been very selfish. We’re going to survive. We’re going to stay together as a family. You have a lot to make up for, but I don’t think you will. You never had it in you.”
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