Boy shoots old lady: GTA IV, violent video games to blame?
- 9 years ago
Kid shoots granny: According to officials, an 8-year-old boy intentionally shot and killed his 87-year-old caregiver, Marie Smothers, on Thursday evening at a mobile home park in Slaughter, Louisiana. The city's sheriff's department's statement says the boy carried out the killing after playing the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, implying that exposure to the game is what made the boy commit the horrendous crime. This will no doubt rekindle the debate over whether violent video games actually trigger violent tendencies in children and adults alike.
Smothers was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the back of her head. She was shot while sitting in her living room watching television, according to the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Department.
According to officials, Smothers was the boy's caregiver, although it wasn't made clear whether she was his relative. However, CNN affiliate WBRZ reported that she was, in fact, the boy's grandmother.
"By accounts of relatives of the victim, as well as friends of the family, the victim and the juvenile had a normal, loving, relationship and even shared the same bedroom," the sheriff's department said.
The boy initially told investigators that he accidentally shot Smothers while he was playing with the shotgun, but an investigation led officials to believe that shooting was actually intentional. However, the boy will not face charges, as Louisiana law stipulates that children under 10 years old are exempt from criminal responsibility.
Reports say the firearm belonged to Smothers, although it has not been revealed how the boy gained access to it.
The child is now with his parents.
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Smothers was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the back of her head. She was shot while sitting in her living room watching television, according to the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Department.
According to officials, Smothers was the boy's caregiver, although it wasn't made clear whether she was his relative. However, CNN affiliate WBRZ reported that she was, in fact, the boy's grandmother.
"By accounts of relatives of the victim, as well as friends of the family, the victim and the juvenile had a normal, loving, relationship and even shared the same bedroom," the sheriff's department said.
The boy initially told investigators that he accidentally shot Smothers while he was playing with the shotgun, but an investigation led officials to believe that shooting was actually intentional. However, the boy will not face charges, as Louisiana law stipulates that children under 10 years old are exempt from criminal responsibility.
Reports say the firearm belonged to Smothers, although it has not been revealed how the boy gained access to it.
The child is now with his parents.
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TomoNews is your daily source for top animated news. We've combined animation and video footage with a snarky personality to bring you the biggest and best stories from around the world.
For news that's fun and never boring, visit our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TomoNewsU