AfterDawn: News

Young child murders grandmother after playing 'Grand Theft Auto IV'

Authorities in Slaughter, Louisiana have confirmed that an 8-year-old boy murdered his 90-year-old grandmother after playing hours of 'Grand Theft Auto IV.'

GTA has been in the news multiple times for similar cases, as the game is often associated with encouraging violence.



Sgt. Kevin Garig says the woman was shot in the head from behind as she watched TV. The child, who can not be charged in Louisiana due to his age, told officers that the shooting was an accident while he played with the firearm. Authorities did not agree.

In the state, the law reads that "Those who have not reached the age of 10 years are exempt from criminal responsibility. However, nothing in this article shall affect the jurisdiction of juvenile courts as established by the constitution and statutes of this state." This means the child will likely spend the next ten years in juvenile facilities.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 12:50

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• 37 comments

• RichardvonBacon

  If a 8 year old child does it, is it really murder? Doesn't it take understanding of what the consequences of your actions are to call it murder? This is an unfortunate accident or, at most, manslaughter.
  

  
  

  25.8.2013 14:33 #1

• Bigwillyz

  Here we go again blaming games for crimes. 1st off why was a kid that age playing a game for adults only? Second why did he have access to a loaded firearm? Every one of these bull shit stories has some crazy circumstance behind it and they always throw a game in the headline. If your kid does something like this, there's something wrong with the kid and the parenting....Bottom line, Not the game!

  25.8.2013 14:47 #2

• mike.m

  This juvenile jurisdiction crap is complete bull. Why, because he is 8 years old, he doesn't know what he did? Of course he did, kids aren't so oblivious and stupid as people think. So what, once he reaches 17 or 18, then his personality will immediately change and he can then start take responsibility for his actions?, until then it's playtime every day. Give the kid some ice cream and the chair and be done with it. I don't care, cry me fkn river.
  

  
  

  25.8.2013 14:55 #3

• startrek7

  The only way the child can't be at fault is his upbringing allowed him to have access to such a violent game and a gun. Most people wouldn't allow both. Sadly, if the boy has a conscience this will haunt him. Otherwise, this is just the beginning...
  

  
  

  25.8.2013 15:31 #4

• Bigwillyz

  Originally posted by startrek7: The only way the child can't be at fault is his upbringing allowed him to have access to such a violent game and a gun. Most people wouldn't allow both. Sadly, if the boy has a conscience this will haunt him. Otherwise, this is just the beginning... It's actually the reverse of what you are saying, there are a lot more people out there that will give their kids everything they want and leave the TV to bring them up. Parents that actually get involved and discipline their kids are the minority here. It's really sad to say but true. Plus the fact that all kids today have this feeling of entitlement and parents are scared to discipline them because of screwed up laws. This topic delves much deeper then a video game and they need to stop using GTA as a scapegoat every time something like this happens..

  25.8.2013 15:41 #5

• Morreale

  "Blame it on the alcohol"

  25.8.2013 16:01 #6

• bobiroc

  Where are these stupid ass parents that let their 8 year old play a rated M game. Then leave a firearm available to the child. Thanks to these dumbasses the government now has fuel to their fire about video game violence which all could have been prevented had there been good parents involved.
  

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  25.8.2013 16:45 #7

• ivymike

  Am I the only one who finds it ironic that this incident happened in a town called Slaughter, Louisiana???

  26.8.2013 00:59 #8

• xboxdvl2

  just another excuse to let them crack down on video game violence and gun laws.
  dont think the kid should get away with it,think he should be put in boarding school or a mental health juvenile facility or something.
  

  i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

  26.8.2013 04:05 #9

• JGJD2001

  its an 18+ game yet you have an 8 year old play it......don't blame the game, blame the ones who let him play

  26.8.2013 07:25 #10

• startrek7

  Originally posted by Bigwillyz: Originally posted by startrek7: The only way the child can't be at fault is his upbringing allowed him to have access to such a violent game and a gun. Most people wouldn't allow both. Sadly, if the boy has a conscience this will haunt him. Otherwise, this is just the beginning... It's actually the reverse of what you are saying, there are a lot more people out there that will give their kids everything they want and leave the TV to bring them up. Parents that actually get involved and discipline their kids are the minority here. It's really sad to say but true. Plus the fact that all kids today have this feeling of entitlement and parents are scared to discipline them because of screwed up laws. This topic delves much deeper then a video game and they need to stop using GTA as a scapegoat every time something like this happens.. I don't see that as opposite, rather a more in depth reason. If you give your eight year old child access to a gun and a game promoting violence, chances are you're really not involved in your child's upbringing because you would realize that both aren't good for a child's psyche at such a young age. They are coming out of the phase of concrete thinking, not truly realizing that if they pull the trigger in real life, they will end someone's life, and the after effects (they aren't there anymore). If they weren't playing a violent video game, they could have been watching a violent movie or TV show (such as the walking dead) and the same result would happen. Sorry my original post didn't get to the root sooner. There have been case studies on violence in media in regards in how we handle it in the real world. So Grand Theft Auto isn't necessarily to blame,but shouldn't be given or played around 8 year olds. As to the proper age, it's debatable. Maybe a psych eval should be given to see who are the proper people to play it.
  

  
  

  26.8.2013 07:35 #11

• fritzb43

  It's getting to the point where breeding is going to have to become a privilege rather than a right, for the sake of the planet and for our sakes. In time, tribes and countries will disappear as the human race 1. tries to save what's left of our planet and 2. tries to find a new home in the stars for many of us. We will no longer have time for games or a criminal class. Both will be eliminated without regret.
  
  This will happen sooner rather than later. Welcome to your Brave New World, boys & girls.

  26.8.2013 08:13 #12

• xtago

  The real overall problem was that the care giver's gun was probably loaded and left in the kitchen draw or bedroom draw and the kid was probably told it was there just in case.
  
  The kid said it wasn't due to the game but simply him playing around with guns.
  
  I would tend to agree this kid while playing GTA4 most likely grabbed the gun and starting being silly with it and shot the care giver not on purpose but due to being a dick with a gun.
  
  While you have 1/3rd of the US pop with a gun license and a gun or few, only 1 in 1000 get any all sort of training on how to use the gun and it's 1 in 50 have ever fired one.
  
  1 in 7 guns owned have never been loaded or fired, so a lot of people who have a gun in the US really have no idea what they do with it, when they actually wanted to use a gun.

  26.8.2013 09:17 #13

• Qliphah

  Because the headline "Neglected child gets bored and shoots strung-out dopehead parent" isn't as catchy of a story.

  26.8.2013 09:23 #14

• powerq

  Originally posted by ivymike: Am I the only one who finds it ironic that this incident happened in a town called Slaughter, Louisiana??? First thing I noticed.
  If they can't blame the game, maybe they'll try to pin it on Ozzy again.

  26.8.2013 11:56 #15

• Clam_Up

  In another breaking news story, the other twenty five million players of GTA IV didn't murder anyone today.
  

  Ignorance en masse is still ignorance.

  26.8.2013 15:15 #16

• Mrguss

  TV all together is not good for a child's psyche (Studies).
  Now imagine a video game rated M played by a 8yo. with access to a gun?!
  http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/PVN/tv-t...roblems-in-kids
  https://secure02.kidshealth.org/parent/...ects_child.html
  

  +5000

  26.8.2013 15:31 #17

• 1nsan3

  anyone who says this is the games fault, dont know there head from there ass.
  
  Blame the parents, they allowed an 8 year old to play a violent game, and had a gun available to the child. NOT LOCKED UP and the ammo should be locked up seperately. it dont matter if he played this game or not, hes a boy and boys play cops and robbers , weather you are playing a video game or not.
  
  so mom dad, grandpa grandma, whoever let that 8 year old play a game like this, and also who ever the retard that left the gun out its YOUR FAULT!!!! im sorry for the lady who died, but hey sorry what do you think is gonna happen when you leave a gun available to a little boy. my son plays with dart guns, squirt guns and watches me play Call of duty and yes grand theft auto. but he KNOWS the difference between real guns and play guns. and hes only 4!!!!!
  
  so shut your mouths and stop blaming video games and LOCK UP YOUR FUCKING WEAPONS!!!!! that's what TRIGGER LOCKS ARE FOR. but hey i bet they are gonna use em now!! Personally I would throw the gun owner in jail. retard

  26.8.2013 17:10 #18

• Mr_Bonez

  Originally posted by Clam_Up: In another breaking news story, the other twenty five million players of GTA IV didn't murder anyone today. Or are smart enough to know how to get rid of the bodies :)

  26.8.2013 17:27 #19

• startrek7

  Originally posted by 1nsan3: anyone who says this is the games fault, dont know there head from there ass.
  
  Blame the parents, they allowed an 8 year old to play a violent game, and had a gun available to the child. NOT LOCKED UP and the ammo should be locked up seperately. it dont matter if he played this game or not, hes a boy and boys play cops and robbers , weather you are playing a video game or not.
  
  so mom dad, grandpa grandma, whoever let that 8 year old play a game like this, and also who ever the retard that left the gun out its YOUR FAULT!!!! im sorry for the lady who died, but hey sorry what do you think is gonna happen when you leave a gun available to a little boy. my son plays with dart guns, squirt guns and watches me play Call of duty and yes grand theft auto. but he KNOWS the difference between real guns and play guns. and hes only 4!!!!!
  
  so shut your mouths and stop blaming video games and LOCK UP YOUR FUCKING WEAPONS!!!!! that's what TRIGGER LOCKS ARE FOR. but hey i bet they are gonna use em now!! Personally I would throw the gun owner in jail. retard You're lucky your 4 year old gets it. From his age to early teens many don't. Irresponsible parenting/supervising is to blame in this case for sure.
  

  
  

  26.8.2013 22:41 #20

• KillerBug

  If the grandma wasn't dead, she would be facing charges. Who lets an 8-year-old unrestricted access to a loaded gun?
  
  As for the game, I don't see how you can blame GTA...I played that game 3 or 4 times, did every side mission...and I don't remember any mission that involved shooting someone in the back of the head.
  

  
  

  27.8.2013 10:20 #21

• dbminter

  Originally posted by ivymike: Am I the only one who finds it ironic that this incident happened in a town called Slaughter, Louisiana??? You're not alone; I was going to reply to this post with something in the same vein.

  30.8.2013 15:12 #22

• kutulu1

  This wouldn't have happened if he was playing a more wholesome game; Witcher 2.

  30.8.2013 22:08 #23

• startrek7

  Originally posted by kutulu1: This wouldn't have happened if he was playing a more wholesome game; Witcher 2. yeah, or may have been whacked in the head with a broom.
  

  
  

  30.8.2013 22:50 #24

• robertmro

  Games dont kill people.
  Guns do.

  31.8.2013 09:41 #25

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways.
  

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  31.8.2013 11:58 #26

• robertmro

  Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways. People with guns.

  31.8.2013 12:19 #27

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways. People with guns. People with guns, knives, bats, poison, ice picks, household cleaners (see poison), any blunt object, any sharp object, bows and arrows, etc...
  
  Many ways crazy people kill other people. Point is if a person decides to kill another person they will find a way to do it.
  

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  31.8.2013 12:33 #28

• robertmro

  Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways. People with guns. People with guns, knives, bats, poison, ice picks, household cleaners (see poison), any blunt object, any sharp object, bows and arrows, etc...
  
  Many ways crazy people kill other people. Point is if a person decides to kill another person they will find a way to do it.[/quot]
  
  Lets not get carried away. We are talking about an 8-year-old boy who has access to a gun.

  31.8.2013 13:30 #29

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways. People with guns. People with guns, knives, bats, poison, ice picks, household cleaners (see poison), any blunt object, any sharp object, bows and arrows, etc...
  
  Many ways crazy people kill other people. Point is if a person decides to kill another person they will find a way to do it. Lets not get carried away. We are talking about an 8-year-old boy who has access to a gun. Still cannot blame the gun for the irresponsible people that left the gun in an unsafe place for the child to have access to it. Also the irresponsibility of the parents or the people that were supposed to raise this child and allowed him to be exposed to content not suitable to his age level and understanding.
  
  Sorry but I grew up as a child of a police officer with guns in my life that were taken care for in a responsible way. I also played video games in my early teens that had violence and more mature material. I guess the difference was my parents did not leave me to let the content and violence of life run my life and taught me right from wrong and explained the difference of reality and fantasy. Kept the guns in a safe place and told me they are not to be touched until I was of an age where I was taught to properly care for, handle, and operate them safely.
  
  I don't call this getting carried away.. I call this being a realist. This is an unfortunate situation that had a bad outcome due to the irresponsibility of PEOPLE. That is the reality.
  

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  31.8.2013 13:40 #30

• robertmro

  Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways. People with guns. People with guns, knives, bats, poison, ice picks, household cleaners (see poison), any blunt object, any sharp object, bows and arrows, etc...
  
  Many ways crazy people kill other people. Point is if a person decides to kill another person they will find a way to do it. Lets not get carried away. We are talking about an 8-year-old boy who has access to a gun. Still cannot blame the gun for the irresponsible people that left the gun in an unsafe place for the child to have access to it. Also the irresponsibility of the parents or the people that were supposed to raise this child and allowed him to be exposed to content not suitable to his age level and understanding.
  
  Sorry but I grew up as a child of a police officer with guns in my life that were taken care for in a responsible way. I also played video games in my early teens that had violence and more mature material. I guess the difference was my parents did not leave me to let the content and violence of life run my life and taught me right from wrong and explained the difference of reality and fantasy. Kept the guns in a safe place and told me they are not to be touched until I was of an age where I was taught to properly care for, handle, and operate them safely.
  
  I don't call this getting carried away.. I call this being a realist. This is an unfortunate situation that had a bad outcome due to the irresponsibility of PEOPLE. That is the reality. OK. So I would think we both agree that the blame would go to whomever left the gun where the 8-year-old could access it and not the game which may or may not have been influenced him.

  31.8.2013 14:47 #31

• omendata

  Originally posted by Bigwillyz: Here we go again blaming games for crimes. 1st off why was a kid that age playing a game for adults only? Second why did he have access to a loaded firearm? Every one of these bull shit stories has some crazy circumstance behind it and they always throw a game in the headline. If your kid does something like this, there's something wrong with the kid and the parenting....Bottom line, Not the game! Right on dude that says it all!
  Nothing to do with the games.
  
  

  31.8.2013 21:07 #32

• Bigwillyz

  Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. Sorry to say but saying that guns kill people is and always will be an ignorant statement. I myself am a gun owner and I have never had my gun walk off to kill someone. That's exactly what you are saying, think about it. It's exactly like saying video games make people kill other people, see where I'm going with this?

  31.8.2013 23:12 #33

• robertmro

  You missed the point.
  It was a defense of video games and an indictment of people who don't secure their firearms from 8-year-olds.
  There is nothing more to read into it.

  31.8.2013 23:40 #34

• pmshah

  Originally posted by bobiroc: Where are these stupid ass parents that let their 8 year old play a rated M game. Then leave a firearm available to the child. Thanks to these dumbasses the government now has fuel to their fire about video game violence which all could have been prevented had there been good parents involved. While agreeing with you I wonder what the situation would be like if a child is not allowed to play such a game that is allowed to his friend by his respective parents. Is it likely that he would be angry enough to shoot the parents in stead of grand mother? Unless there is a genetic flaw I believe a child can always be taught to be responsible by proper explanation and a bit of disciplining.

  1.9.2013 01:31 #35

• pmshah

  Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by robertmro: Games dont kill people.
  Guns do. People kill people. They do that in a variety of ways. People with guns. People with guns, knives, bats, poison, ice picks, household cleaners (see poison), any blunt object, any sharp object, bows and arrows, etc...
  
  Many ways crazy people kill other people. Point is if a person decides to kill another person they will find a way to do it. Lets not get carried away. We are talking about an 8-year-old boy who has access to a gun. Still cannot blame the gun for the irresponsible people that left the gun in an unsafe place for the child to have access to it. Also the irresponsibility of the parents or the people that were supposed to raise this child and allowed him to be exposed to content not suitable to his age level and understanding.
  
  Sorry but I grew up as a child of a police officer with guns in my life that were taken care for in a responsible way. I also played video games in my early teens that had violence and more mature material. I guess the difference was my parents did not leave me to let the content and violence of life run my life and taught me right from wrong and explained the difference of reality and fantasy. Kept the guns in a safe place and told me they are not to be touched until I was of an age where I was taught to properly care for, handle, and operate them safely.
  
  I don't call this getting carried away.. I call this being a realist. This is an unfortunate situation that had a bad outcome due to the irresponsibility of PEOPLE. That is the reality. OK. So I would think we both agree that the blame would go to whomever left the gun where the 8-year-old could access it and not the game which may or may not have been influenced him. I am not into gaming at all but just wonder if there are any games that depict throat slitting ! In this case the kitchen would have to be locked out!

  1.9.2013 01:37 #36

• xboxdvl2

  battlefield allows throat slitting.
  mortal combat & killer instinct allows you to kill people with your bare hands.lets blame them for murder as well (not to mention the other hundreds of violent games)
  mario bros encourages you to jump on peoples heads lets blame that when someone gets there head jumped on.
  pac man encourages you to run around eating pills lets blame drug use on that.
  command and conquer encourages base raiding lets blame home invasions on that.
  
  ok sarcasm over but i think you can see my point if you read my post.
  

  i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

  1.9.2013 07:47 #37