Sarasota County man charged in deaths of girlfriend, son

 A 34-year-old Sarasota man was charged with two counts of second-degree murder following his Saturday arrest in the deaths of his girlfriend and 6-year-old son in a housing development near Rothenbach Park.

Nicholas Novickis, with a home address in the 1900 block of Main Street in Sarasota, was ordered held in the Sarasota County Jail on no bond.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home in the 4700 block of Mondrian Court in the Artistry community around 11:38 a.m. Saturday on a report of shots fired. There, they found the bodies of a 34-year-old woman, whom the sheriff’s department identified as Novickis’ girlfriend and a 6-year-old boy, identified as his son.

Novockis was taken into custody in the home’s kitchen, without incident. A dog was also found critically wounded. It died later at an emergency veterinarian, the sheriff’s office said.

In a probable cause affidavit filed in the case, investigators reported that Novickis' mother called authorities to report her son had shot the woman, child and dog. The document says Novickis' mother described her son and the others arriving at her home on Mondrian Court to swim, after which she went back to sleep. 

Later, she awoke to the sound of glass breaking and saw her son with a shotgun.

"At no time prior to the shooting did there appear to be an argument or any type of disturbance. While waiting to be interviewed, Nicholas made a spontaneous utterance in the interview room where he stated his regret and that it was "f----- up" that he killed his wife, son and dog,'' the affidavit states. 

The motive for the shooting is unknown, the sheriff's office said. The investigation is ongoing.