Son stabbed his father 20 times in what police call a murder. He says it was self-defense.

A man in Texas is accused of stabbing his father 20 times and killing him.

El Paso police officers responded to reports of an unknown problem at 6175 Alameda Ave on June 29. Officers found 78-year-old Jose Felipe Reyes Sr., who was pronounced dead from multiple stab wounds in the face, neck, right and left side of his torso.

Detectives with the El Paso Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit determined Reyes’ son, 30-year-old Jose Felipe Reyes Jr., was responsible for the fatal attack. He was later taken into custody and charged with murder. 

Police said Reyes Jr. initially denied having any involvement in the incident, before claiming the stabbing was in self-defense.

Reyes Jr. told police he spent the night at his father's house and said he felt uneasy when his father reportedly laid knives out on his bed, according to El Paso police.

Reyes Jr. told officers that his father had stabbed him in 2017, and threatened him again, according to KTSM 9 News.

The son reportedly his father came at him with the knife, and he disarmed him. Reyes Jr. claimed he used the knife to attack his father in self-defense. Authorities noted Reyes had two lacerations he suffered while he disarmed his father, according to KFOX 14 News.

Police say Reyes stabbed his father several times before the handle broke off during the altercation, then grabbed another knife and continued to stab his father.

Officials decided to charge Reyes Jr. after they determined he did not attempt to report the incident or seek medical attention for his wounded father.

He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, and was ordered held on a $1 million bond.