THE devastated parents of an Irish farmer shot dead in California are to bring his body back home for burial.

John O'Sullivan (47), who had settled in the US with his wife and children, was killed following a dispute with his neighbour.

His Co Kerry-based parents and siblings said they have yet to find out the full circumstances surrounding his tragic death.

They plan to fly out to California to return his body for burial on Valentia island.

Vineyard

Mr O'Sullivan's neighbour in Amador County, California, Kenneth John Zimmerman, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Mr O'Sullivan's brother Alan has told how the Valentia native had made the US his home since he emigrated there in the early 1980s.

He had his own vineyard in rural Fiddletown, which is 74km from Sacramento.

Although he had not been back to Ireland in 13 years, he kept in regular contact with his mother and father Michael and Tassie, as well his grandfather John William, a publican in Valentia.

The family only learned about the shooting when his wife Christa Clem phoned them in a state of shock.

Police found Mr O'Sullivan dead in his tractor, off the road in brush near Mr Zimmerman's property on Sunday.

It is understood the two had been in a long-running dispute.

That day, Mr Zimmerman (56) had reported to police that Mr O'Sullivan had driven a tractor through his locked gate, damaging his property. He also reported that Mr O'Sullivan had struck him in the face with his open hand, and tried to run over him with the tractor.

Mr Zimmerman went on to tell the emergency dispatcher that the Sheriff's Office better hurry up and get there "before I shoot him".

Minutes after the county sheriff's deputies were dispatched, Ms Clem made a 911 call saying she had heard gunshots and could not find her husband.

A preliminary investigation showed Mr O'Sullivan was the victim of multiple gunshot wounds.

According to police, Mr Zimmerman was blocking the roadway when they arrived in the valley and he told them where they could find Mr O'Sullivan.

Detectives have said they are classifying their investigation as "open and ongoing".

Mr Zimmerman is being held without bail.

Mr O'Sullivan's family have praised Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue and Department of Foreign Affairs staff for their help.

aphelan@herald.ie

- Andrew Phelan