Shock has been caused in Hollywood and internationally by the double murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, at their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, with authorities considering their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, responsible. As police announced, the case file will be forwarded today to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will examine whether to bring formal charges.

Nick Reiner has been arrested on suspicion of homicide; however, the filing of specific charges and the date of his first court appearance will be determined by the prosecutor’s office.

On Monday night, the unit that carried out Nick Reiner’s arrest posted footage from the moment they placed handcuffs on the famous director’s son.

The arrest took place near a metro station about 25 kilometers from the home where the brutal murder occurred.

In the footage, Nick Reiner can be seen on the ground with his hands behind his back, after which police officers placed him inside a patrol car.

The legendary Hollywood director and his wife were found dead in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood. According to information reported by TMZ, both had injuries to the neck, indicating an attack with a sharp object. Authorities believe that an intense argument took place inside the residence before the double killing. The victims were discovered by the couple’s daughter.

U.S. media also report that one day before the murder, the 78-year-old director and his 68-year-old wife had a “very intense confrontation” with their son at Christmas party hosted by presenter Conan O’Brien, with the couple leaving after the argument.

The 32-year-old son arrested – “Responsible” for the deaths

The Los Angeles Police Department announced that Nick Reiner is considered “responsible” for the deaths of his parents.

The 32-year-old was arrested and taken into custody, while according to reports, a heated altercation with his father had preceded the incident on Saturday, at a Christmas party at Conan O’Brien’s home.

He has been charged with homicide and is being held without the possibility of immediate release.

The Reiners were worried about their son’s mental health

A family friend told the New York Post that Nick Reiner had resumed using drugs and that his parents had been worried about his mental health in recent months.

“Rob was telling everyone that they were afraid for Nick and that his mental health was deteriorating. These poor people did everything to help this child,” said the family friend, who lives a few blocks away from the Reiners’ home.

He described how the director and his wife spared no expense in trying to help Nick, sending him to “countless rehabilitation centers” over the years, adding that their son had once been “heavily addicted to a combination of opioids and heroin.”

Accounts of violent behavior and long-standing problems

Neighbors and people from the family’s circle report that Nick Reiner was known for violent behavior. “This is not the first time their son has displayed such behavior,” a neighbor told the New York Post, adding that those who knew him “immediately understood” who was responsible for the crime.

Another neighbor said he was “not surprised” by the development, though he declined to give further details.

“They wanted to help him, to go to rehab”

According to testimonies, Nick Reiner had been facing serious addiction problems for years. “Rob was devastated that his son could not overcome his addiction,” said a neighbor, adding that the couple persistently tried to persuade him to enter a rehabilitation center. “But he wanted to receive help at home. They had been discussing it for years,” the neighbor said.

A former classmate of Nick stated that from the age of 15 he was constantly entering and leaving rehab centers and that “he was always troubled.” “When I heard the news, I immediately knew it was him,” she said.

“Wonderful people” – The couple’s image in the neighborhood

By contrast, everyone who spoke about Rob and Michelle Reiner described them as two particularly beloved people. A neighborhood security guard said he saw them daily and that “they were the sweetest people in the world.” “One rainy day they gave me an umbrella because I didn’t have one. I still keep it,” he said emotionally.

Another neighbor described the couple as “kind, loving, and generous,” noting that “it is tragic that their lives ended this way” and that “their other children are being asked to endure an unimaginable loss.”

Who is Rob Reiner’s son, Nick

Nick Reiner was one of the couple’s sons. They also had another son, Jake, as well as a daughter, Romy, while the director had a daughter, Tracy, from a previous marriage.

The director’s son had spoken openly in the past about the serious problems of drug addiction he faced from his teenage years. He was born on September 14, 1993, and, as he has revealed, entered a rehabilitation center for the first time around the age of 15. By 2016, he had passed through detox and rehab facilities more than a dozen times.

In statements he made in 2016, according to People, he described his life as a homeless person in states such as Maine, New Jersey, and Texas. As he explained, the reason he was living on the streets was because he had decided not to continue the rehabilitation programs that were being offered to him.

Alongside his battle with addiction, Nick Reiner turned to writing. He wrote the screenplay for the film Being Charlie, which was loosely based on his life and personal experiences. The film was directed by his father, Rob Reiner, who had stated on the show WTF With Marc Maron that it was the most personal film he had ever directed.

Speaking in a 2016 interview about his relationship with his father, Nick Reiner admitted that he had not developed a close bond with him during his childhood. As he said, they had different interests, which kept them at a distance. Their collaboration on the film Being Charlie was, according to him, a point of rapprochement and understanding.