Vicksburg police are continuing their investigation into that cause of a family argument Christmas Day that led the to death of a man and his son and a fire that destroyed their home in Briarwood Place.

“We have nothing new that we can release at this time,” police Lt. Troy Kimble said.

Deputy police chief Bobby Stewart said authorities are treating the deaths of James Jarrod Wasson, 39, who killed his son, Jim Wasson, 9, as a homicide/suicide, and authorities believe Wasson used some type of sharp object to kill his son before using it to take is own life.

Officers responding to a call about a house fire at 8 Briarwood Place about 9 p.m. Friday arrived to find fire breaking through the roof and the bodies of Wasson and his son lying in the driveway at the house.

The bodies were taken to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsies. The preliminary reports on the deaths have not been released.

Police said Wasson’s wife, who was not identified, and his 7-year-old son, who was also not identified, managed to escape the burning house. The woman, who police said was beaten, was taken to Merit Health River Region Medical Center, where she was treated and released. The 7-year-old was not injured. Police do not know what started the argument, Stewart said.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined pending an investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Saturday morning, the house stood gutted with a scorched area along the roof showing where the fire broke through, and Christmas yard decorations adorned the front yard.

A dark gray Toyota pickup with the tag “JWASSON” stood at the edge of the driveway, while an orange Mustang with the tag “WASSON1” sat apparently undisturbed under the carport. A small dachshund wandered around the house and the property.

Fire Chief Charles Atkins said firefighters responding to the fire were asked by police to wait until the scene had been secured, adding the trucks stood by on Hawkins Street at the entrance to Birarwood Place until they heard from police.

“They said they didn’t know if there was a shooter in the building or someplace else on the property,” Atkins said. “They even searched in the woods behind the house.”

He said firefighters reached the house at 9:44 p.m. and left about 4 a.m. Saturday.

Police Chief Walter Armstrong called the case a “classic domestic dispute,” saying it was atragedy for the family.

He said the domestic argument wasn’t the only one police handled over Christmas.

“We answered a lot of domestic calls Christmas,” he said. “I don’t know the reason, but we handled more this time of year than any other.”