SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The attorney for Charlie Tan says a federal judge ruled statements made by his client on the night his father was killed can be used in his upcoming weapons trial.

The judge weighed a motion by the defense to rule out statements Tan made to the first deputies responding to his Pittsford home in 2015.

Prosecutors say Tan told deputies he "had to do it" because he said his father Jim was going to kill his mother.

Tan is accused of receiving a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a crime.

Prosecutors say a Remington shotgun bought at a Cortland Walmart was ultimately used to kill Jim Tan.

While Charlie was originally tried for murder, those charges were dismissed by a judge for what he said was a lack of evidence after a trial ended in a hung jury.

The defense says jury selection for Tan's federal trial is currently scheduled for next month in Syracuse.