Boy, 8, Kills Gran After Playing Video Game

[Jazzy]

An eight-year-old boy intentionally gunned down his grandmother minutes after playing the violent video game Grand Theft Auto IV, US authorities said.

The town of Slaughter, Louisiana, is in shock after the child was able to access the family's gun and shoot the 90-year-old in the head while she was watching television.

The woman, who was helping to look after the boy, was pronounced dead at the scene at the Country Breeze Mobile Home Park.

Sheriff's deputies have not revealed a motive but they pointed out the child was playing the video game before the fatal shooting.

The game, which is rated "M" for mature audiences and is recommended for ages 17 and older, has been associated with encouraging violence and awards points to players for killing people.

The child told investigators that he accidentally shot the woman while playing with a firearm, WAFB-TV reported.

But evidence has led investigators to believe the child intentionally shot her in the back of the head as she watched TV, it added.

Neighbour Johnnie Scott told Fox8live.com: "Where did she have the gun?

"Where did he see the gun, was it in his eyesight? That's the thought that goes through my head."

Child psychologist Kristopher Kaliebe said access to a violent video game such as Grand Theft Auto IV may encourage aggressive behaviour.

He said: "From a behaviour therapy perspective, I would say that's practicing.

"So if you have a video game where someone shoots at a target, that's sort of practicing shooting at a target.

"When you have a video game that is shooting at a human being, that is practicing shooting at a human being."

The child is being looked after by his parents. The authorities are treating the shooting as a "homicide".

The boy cannot be charged with a crime because of his age, the sheriff's office said.

Louisiana law states: "Those who have not reached the age of 10 years are exempt from criminal responsibility."

Source

Do you think violent video games encourage aggressive behaviour?

 

[Sinon]

In a town called Slaughter, I'm surprised this isn't more common.

Edit: also

"So if you have a video game where someone shoots at a target, that's sort of practicing shooting at a target.

"When you have a video game that is shooting at a human being, that is practicing shooting at a human being."

Really? They train you to load, aim, and fire, dealing with recoil and weight distribution?

Did playing GTA teach me to hotwire a vehicle and rampage around the city?

 

[Raven]

No video games don;t, I HATE stories like this. Very sad but video games are not to blame.

I've played violent games growing up, I don't go around with iron bars and bash someone to death, or get hold of a firearm and shoot a defenseless person in the head, nor do I go out in my car and drive along the pavements running everyone over! A game is a game.

The boy sounds mentally unstable and shouldn't have been playing it in the first place!

 

[Evil Eye]

Did playing GTA teach me to hotwire a vehicle and rampage around the city?

If it did, could it be classified as educational?

 

[Sinon]

Did playing GTA teach me to hotwire a vehicle and rampage around the city?

If it did, could it be classified as educational?

I'd say so, yes. Hell, if the Tellytubbies can be called educational, that sure can.

 

[Raven]

Tellytubbies used to frighten me hahahaha

 

[Evil Eye]

Why?
I used to love it, then I didn't watch it for a number of years and by the time I watched it again I was rather disappointed at how bad it was. Disappointed enough to remember.

 

[JetWing34]

I think M-rated games should require a valid driver's license and the End User License Agreement to ensure the retailers:

(S)he is 17 or older to play the game.
(S)he will capable of good behavior.
(S)he will not murder or harm others carried out from playing the M-rated game.

Unfortunately, that kid will face serious charges, and it's hard to come clean from it.

 

[Sinon]

I think M-rated games should require a valid driver's license and the End User License Agreement to ensure the retailers:

(S)he is 17 or older to play the game.
(S)he will capable of good behavior.
(S)he will not murder or harm others carried out from playing the M-rated game.

Unfortunately, that kid will face serious charges, and it's hard to come clean from it.

1. They already ID people if they're unsure. If someone is buying for their child, there's no way to tell unless they out and say it.

2. How would a drivers license or EULA prove this? How would you move onto this from [1]?

3. How would you prove this?

Also, according to the article children under the age of 10 are exempt from any kind of action from the law. So...

 

[Jazzy]

the child was able to access the family's gun and shoot the 90-year-old in the head while she was watching television

Playing the video game did not have anything to do with this 10 year old shooting and killing his grandmother. If the owner of the firearm was a responsible gun owner, none of this would have happened. The gun should have been locked up without being loaded. It's the gun owners fault not the video game.

 

[Sinon]

the child was able to access the family's gun and shoot the 90-year-old in the head while she was watching television

Playing the video game did not have anything to do with this 10 year old shooting and killing his grandmother. If the owner of the firearm was a responsible gun owner, none of this would have happened. The gun should have been locked up without being loaded. It's the gun owners fault not the video game.

Watch all the gun nuts come in defending their pistols now. Or blaming the videogame. Because I've said it before... games don't kill. If pro-gun people can say the gun is not at fault, I see no reason to blame any kind of media.