8 Year Old Boy Kills Father, Father's Friend

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) -- A man who police believe was shot and killed by his 8-year-old son had consulted a Roman Catholic priest about whether the boy should have a gun and had taught him how to use firearms, the clergyman said.

NEWS SOURCE: www.cnn.com...




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[edit on 9/11/08 by Jbird]

Wow! I don't really know what to think, was the kid old enough to realize what he had done? I personally feel that, at 8 years old, he would be able to understand that. So i'm not sure whether or not I feel that he should be considered to be tried as an adult. I think even at 8, an adult ruling is a bit much, but... It was 2 murders. They said on television that there may have been child abuse involved as a initiative to kill. I don't want to say that and it be false though, I just don't know.

If you know anything about children or the brain then adults should know that it takes a long time for a children's brain to development. Children may know right from wrong but that does not mean that they have the compentency to understand anything. Most children from 8-17 cannot tell you what miranda rights are, how a lawyer is suppose to help you/vice versa. They only have a one-way mind. They cannot think about future concerns as adults do because their brains are not fully development. This information can be found in psychology, criminal justice magazine, and case studies. I do not believe this child should be charged with this crime. This may seem wrong to some but he is not developmentally compentent to understand what has taken place. However, he does need psychology help now because when he becomes older and can understand what happened he may suffer with guilt, anger, or depression but that does not in no way mean that he will be a distrubed child. This young child can grow up to be a productive citizen he just needs the right caregiver and Jesus Christ to be his guide. I pray that God may bless this child and keep him from harms way and his family.

reply to post by Schmidt1989


Not only should he NOT be tried an adult, it shouldn't even enter anyone's thought process. He is a child, a mere boy of 8 years old.

We don't even know if he did it, if he did, there has to be a reason. 8 year olds don't go around whacking their father and their friends for sport. Usually when a child who is relatively a sane boy with no problems on his record kills it's for a reason. For all we know, IF this boy did it, he may not have thought he was going to kill them and maybe thought he just hurt them or wanted to hurt them.

I am still not convinced this child did it, the police have not offered any evidence whatsoever if this boy did it or not.

I feel so sad for him either way. He needs help if he did it, not to be thrown in the prison system. We need to have compassion.

Well they say that, "killers come in all shapes and sizes." However, where was the stepmother during all this? Could the little fellow been drug with some kind of medication and placed at the crime scene? How was the relations the relationship with the recently married couple? We all know what money can do to people.

On my behalf i really think the little boy didn't do that, because first in mind it was a shot gun and how could a 8-year shot a heavy gun like that. My second thought was someone set him to to tell the police he did because he is to young to take the charge, because on the news this mornig it sounded like someone set down with him and told him wat too say. And on my last thought, i really think his mother was the one for the murder


Gary,Indiana
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