THE father of a man who was shot dead in the United States will make an emotional trip next month to the place where his son is buried.

Colin Paddon, 66, who lives in Southampton will fly to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to pay his respects at the grave of his son Stephen who was killed in what police believe to have been an attempted robbery.

Mr Paddon will be accompanied by Stephen's sisters.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, Stephen was thought to have been the victim of a road crash after his car was found overturned by the side of a road.

It was only after his body was examined that doctors found he had been shot in the back.

The discovery sparked a murder inquiry by detectives who have now charged a 19-year-old with his murder.

Mr Paddon, who was known as Steve, had emigrated to the US after marrying his American-born wife Denise with whom he has two children.

Mr Paddon Snr said. "It will be strange going out there.

"A lot of the time Steve wasn't around anyway because of his work. It will be difficult though knowing he won't be coming back.

"The family is devastated."

Mr Paddon last saw his son, who grew up in Woolston and attended Weston Park Boys' School, eight months ago on one of their holidays to the States.

He said: "The last time I spoke to him was a couple of weeks ago.

"We talked regularly on the phone.

"He was the same as ever, just talking about his family, work, the usual things."

Although his son was buried on Wednesday, Mr Paddon is planning a memorial service for Stephen in Southampton where he grew up.