Upstate New York man fatally shot his best friend as he sat the dinner table: report

A New York man was charged with shooting and his “best friend" as he sat dining room table, authorities said.

An Ulster County Grand Jury indicted Gregory Thayer, 48, of Magic Drive in the Town of Ulster, second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon after Town of Ulster Police charged him for the murder of Bruce Swierc, according to HundsonValleyOne.com.

Police were called to a home on Magic Drive in Ulster, where they reportedly found Swierc, 48, of Torrance, California, dead around 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, according to MidHudsonNews.com.

Prosecutors said, “Swierc was a childhood friend of Thayer and was spending time at the Thayer home when he was shot once in the head as he sat on a chair at the dining table at approximately 12:24 a.m.,” at the arraignment in Ulster County Court on Friday.

“Afterward, Thayer allegedly called a family member and did not call or report the shooting to 911 or police,” according to the Daily Freeman.

A neighbor reportedly called the police, who said Thayer was found at the house where he allegedly shot Swierc. Police arrested the suspect at the home without incident.

The District Attorney's office stated Swierc was visiting his hometown to console his mother whose partner had died. Swierc reportedly planned to spend a few more days in the area to see relatives and the defendant before returning to California. Police ruled out drug and gang activity but would not say if they had established a motive.

Thayer was ordered held in the Ulster County Jail without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 19.