Daniel Petric killed mother, shot father because they took Halo 3 video game

[Inward Visionary]

From here: http://www.cleveland.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/boy_killed_mom_and_shot_dad_ov.html


Also on Monday, a tearful Mark Petric testified that his son came up behind him as he sat on the couch and said, "Would you guys close your eyes? I have a surprise for you."

Petric, 45, said he "expected a pleasant surprise" and closed his eyes. Then his head went numb. As the blood poured from a bullet wound in his head, he realized his wife, Susan Petric, 43, was lying dead on a nearby loveseat, shot in the head, arms and chest.

[Glowy]

This is very sad, clearly the young man had some issues that his parents may not have been fullly aware of. I am sure more will surface.

I really feel for the father, he lost his wife and his son.

[Infinite Grey]

Yay the right to bear arms! :boing:


Halo 3 is not a violent game - well, not compared to most other FPS out there.

[Shawn Blackwolf]

This is very sad, clearly the young man had some issues that his parents may not have been fullly aware of. I am sure more will surface.

I really feel for the father, he lost his wife and his son.

QFT...I agree wholeheartedly...

And , being me...with my terrible sense of humor...

I can just see , when he is standing before his personal god...

( if he has one )

God shaking his finger at him...No halo for you , sir !

I know...I am terrible...:uhhuhuh:

[Caitlin.ann]

*is shocked beyond words*

[Sequoia]

Yay the right to bear arms! :boing:


Halo 3 is not a violent game - well, not compared to most other FPS out there.

Um, how is this Halo's fault? The kid obviously cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality, and/or has other mental problems. And amazingly, his parents aren't to blame either - they tried to keep the game from him.

It kind of bothers me that the family wants him home. He obviously is a danger to others, and possibly himself. At the VERY least, he needs some deep, intensive, in-patient counseling. For at least a year.

I guess if the family forgives him, he may not belong in prison. But he sure as hell belongs in a lockdown facility.

[Shawn Blackwolf]

It kind of bothers me that the family wants him home. He obviously is a danger to others, and possibly himself. At the VERY least, he needs some deep, intensive, in-patient counseling. For at least a year.

I guess if the family forgives him, he may not belong in prison. But he sure as hell belongs in a lockdown facility.


Yeah...see his eyes ?

Not in my backyard !

[Cunae]

The games are violent and disrespectful of human life, but I think the only real danger they pose is twisting off the already mentally ill.

[Raxeph]

Um, how is this Halo's fault? The kid obviously cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality, and/or has other mental problems. And amazingly, his parents aren't to blame either - they tried to keep the game from him.

It kind of bothers me that the family wants him home. He obviously is a danger to others, and possibly himself. At the VERY least, he needs some deep, intensive, in-patient counseling. For at least a year.

I guess if the family forgives him, he may not belong in prison. But he sure as hell belongs in a lockdown facility.

I agree. Shooting your mother dead and badly wounding your father just because they won't allow you to play a single video game out of the collection you have? :eek: (three, if you count Halo 1 & 2 as well) There's some major problems there that need to be explored. I pick up something strange when I look at his eyes too. Somethings not right there. :hrmm:

(Incidently, IIRC, Halo's only enemies are alien foes (the varied Covenant and the parasitic Flood); no humans, unlike many other FPS's, so there's no blowing away humans there if I'm not mistaken.)

[Philosophia]

This violence has nothing to do with video games. He would probably be violent if it was a book or something else that his parents took from him. In my opinion, it shows a teenager with a lot of deep seated issues.

[Sequoia]

The games are violent and disrespectful of human life, but I think the only real danger they pose is twisting off the already mentally ill.

Blaming a game is making an excuse for a person. Books may inspire, but nobody blames the book when a serial killer reads Silence of the Lambs. So why blame the video game?

But of course, if we're talking about something popular, like a video game or role-playing game (think D&D), why, it's the thing's fault. Not the person's.

'Splain to me all the NORMAL people who play these games, and NEVER go around harming others?

Hell, this kid's actions weren't even copycatting the game. He was violent about the game. Not in imitation of the game.

[Infinite Grey]

I have now read the article... I didn't know the father was a minister at New Life Assembly of God... that explains so much. A very restrictive form of Pentecostalism... and the biggest proponents of creationism

[Sequoia]

I have now read the article... I didn't know the father was a minister at New Life Assembly of God... that explains so much. A very restrictive form of Pentecostalism... and the biggest proponents of creationism

I know that we just all hate the Evil Xians oh so much :rolleyes: , but pray tell, why would this mean that he's somehow predisposed to murder his family?

Just how does his father's church "explain so much" about why the kid would go psychotic on his parents who apparently had very close relationships with him?

It wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with his condition and accident. No. It's his family's faith. One that, amazingly, does not advocate harming one's own family. Hmmm....

Also, 'splain to me how creationism = murderers.

[Nox_Mortus]

I know that we just all hate the Evil Xians oh so much :rolleyes: , but pray tell, why would this mean that he's somehow predisposed to murder his family?

Just how does his father's church "explain so much" about why the kid would go psychotic on his parents who apparently had very close relationships with him?

It wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with his condition and accident. No. It's his family's faith. One that, amazingly, does not advocate harming one's own family. Hmmm....

Also, 'splain to me how creationism = murderers.

well, given the religious sect his family belongs to, the probability of him growing up in a highly repressive household is fairly high, and that sort of thing can lead to a lot of mental issues.

[Infinite Grey]

I know that we just all hate the Evil Xians oh so much :rolleyes: , but pray tell, why would this mean that he's somehow predisposed to murder his family?

Just how does his father's church "explain so much" about why the kid would go psychotic on his parents who apparently had very close relationships with him?

It wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with his condition and accident. No. It's his family's faith. One that, amazingly, does not advocate harming one's own family. Hmmm....

Also, 'splain to me how creationism = murderers.


well, given the religious sect his family belongs to, the probability of him growing up in a highly repressive household is fairly high, and that sort of thing can lead to a lot of mental issues.


What Nox said.

I grew up in a Pentecostal family, thankfully a lazy one. but the other church members... Think the Phelps of Westbro Baptist only a little more human.

[Caitlin.ann]

Because a Christian background is an excuse to execute your parents over a video game?

[Infinite Grey]

Because a Christian background is an excuse to execute your parents over a video game?

Did we say that?

No.

[Caitlin.ann]

Its beginning to appear more and more like that, unfortunately, what with the mention of his "repressive christian upbringing". Good grief! He has obvious mental instability and you can't blame his parents for what he did to them.

[*GrumpButt*]

O thats so horrid! But I can't say that the parents arn't to blame in some ways. Not saying they deserve it, gods no, but there signs that show when a person has problems and needs help. It seems obvious to me that either they were not paying attn. to their son and his behavior or just didn't want to see. I dunno, but there are signs that somehow they missed. Or Just didn't want to see.

[Philosophia]

As sad as this is, a repressive upbringing (regardless of religion) can be a factor for his mental instability, especially if his parents are a focus of it. I'm not saying that his parents are to blame but his background can offer a better explanation of why this occurred.

[Anthony41671]

The right to bear arms has nothing to do with this...if there wasn't a gun in the house, he'd have just stabbed or beaten them to death.

So, I guess we should out law knives and baseball bats too, whilst you're out lawing guns.

Why is it always the gun or the game (or the music) that automatically gets blamed for crap like this..

oh, the game is violent, the music is violent, the gun shot them by itself!!

Yes, I know that's not really what anyone is saying...but sooner or later, someone will...or imply it.

The kid shot the parents...the gun was a tool...it could have been a garden hoe, or a bat, or any blunt object.

[*GrumpButt*]

Yes background has a factor I agree, but still for him to do this, the kid has to have some kind of problem. And his parents didn't see or didn't want to see. The kid waited a month b/f doing this.... It seems obvious that he must have had some kind of issues that a parent should have picked up on. And I am not saying that they take total blame, or deserve what happend, just that they missed signs along the way somewhere.

[*GrumpButt*]

And I agree with Ant... Guns don't shoot people, people shoot people.

[Caitlin.ann]

I'm just saying it seems that a lot of people are thinking his parents deserved to have their brains blown out which isn't really fair, IMO.

[*GrumpButt*]

I don't think it's fair at all that they died and got hurt. I am just saying that maybe, just maybe if they had seen the signs here that this might have never happend.

[Anthony41671]

No, they didn't deserve it.

You just have to wonder what they did or didn't do to bring it on...or did or didn't do to stop it if the facts where there to support the possibilty.

Maybe there was no overt actions that would indicate it...we may never even know...

[Caitlin.ann]

Maybe there were no noticeable signs. Maybe they never thought "hey he may try to kill me and will succeed in killing my wife one day". I mean yeah maybe it could have been prevented but to say "well they should have seen it coming" is going a bit far dontcha think?

[Anthony41671]

Maybe there were no noticeable signs. Maybe they never thought "hey he may try to kill me and will succeed in killing my wife one day". I mean yeah maybe it could have been prevented but to say "well they should have seen it coming" is going a bit far dontcha think?

I'm not saying it...I'm asking the questions about if they could/should have.

Call it sophistry if you want...but in my twisted head, I see a difference.

[*GrumpButt*]

No Im not saying that either SS :P Just that maybe if he had some kind of help before hand maybe things would have never been so bad? It is a really horrible thing to happen, no matter who's fault. Sucks all around :(

[Laisrean]

Yay the right to bear arms! :boing:


Halo 3 is not a violent game - well, not compared to most other FPS out there.

This crime was neither the fault of guns or of video games. The fault lies 100% with the perp.

[HetHert]

Bye-bye Daniel Petric. Enjoy your stay in some of the finest mental and detaining institutions we have. I hope you never touch another video game EVER!!!

[Laisrean]

Bye-bye Daniel Petric. Enjoy your stay in some of the finest mental and detaining institutions we have. I hope you never touch another video game EVER!!!

I say we put him on an island with similarly minded people and supply them all with Halo style weapons and make a reality series out of them killing each other off. Hey, it's kinda what they wanted too, right?

[debnmike]

I say we put him on an island with similarly minded people and supply them all with Halo style weapons and make a reality series out of them killing each other off. Hey, it's kinda what they wanted too, right?


Oh come on. The kid obviously has serious mental issues that go far beyond video games. "Similarly minded people"--you mean all mentally ill folks should be thrown on an island?

I agree with Sequoia; the kids needs some seriously intesive therapy. I also agree with her in that he did it because he was refused the game, not because he was reenacting it.

[HetHert]

Oh come on. The kid obviously has serious mental issues that go far beyond video games. "Similarly minded people"--you mean all mentally ill folks should be thrown on an island?

I agree with Sequoia; the kids needs some seriously intesive therapy. I also agree with her in that he did it because he was refused the game, not because he was reenacting it.


Maybe the guy is just a selfish asshat. You know the world breeds those people too.

[debnmike]

Maybe the guy is just a selfish asshat. You know the world breeds those people too.

True, but I'd think there'd be a difference between a "selfish asshat" and a kid blowing his parents away.

I mean, some kids get "revenge" on their folks by doing something stupid like slamming doors, copping an attitude or maybe even throwing stuff--but murder? That seems really extreme to the point of irrationality.

[Laisrean]

True, but I'd think there'd be a difference between a "selfish asshat" and a kid blowing his parents away.

I mean, some kids get "revenge" on their folks by doing something stupid like slamming doors, copping an attitude or maybe even throwing stuff--but murder? That seems really extreme to the point of irrationality.

Read up on Psychopathy. The kid is probably afflicted with it. You can't reason with this sort, nor treat them. The best thing to do is lock them up for good or execute them.

[Purrcatnip]

I really dont think a video game had anything to do with it. I think the parents are just looking for a way to cope and chose the most likely "sinful" thing to blame. Its horrible what happened, but realistically there HAD to be underlying issues.

[HetHert]

True, but I'd think there'd be a difference between a "selfish asshat" and a kid blowing his parents away.

I mean, some kids get "revenge" on their folks by doing something stupid like slamming doors, copping an attitude or maybe even throwing stuff--but murder? That seems really extreme to the point of irrationality.

I don't. I think kids are quite capable of taking things to extremes with full awareness of what they are doing. Some just don't care. Impulses and anger can be a lethal mix. I don't agree that every case of uncontrolled impulses and rage mismanagement makes a person mentally ill. It makes them mentally lazy and in certain moments twisted. But that doesn't mean they are without the faculties to know right from wrong or to have thought of a different means of handling the situation. The boy needs to go away, away from his family, away from society. He needs alot of time to reflect on his ill conceived notions of right and wrong and justified responses. If his parents couldn't teach him that the penal system certainly will. I'm sure he'll get psychologically probed an and prodded and perhaps he'll get somewhere in understanding how he got to this point in his life, but whatever the outcome beyond that he will go away for a long time to think about how stupid that one moment in his life was. I hope he thinks long and hard. I don't care how sorry he is. This is one of those times where acting first and apologizing later doesn't cut it.

[aranarose]

Yes background has a factor I agree, but still for him to do this, the kid has to have some kind of problem. And his parents didn't see or didn't want to see. The kid waited a month b/f doing this.... It seems obvious that he must have had some kind of issues that a parent should have picked up on. And I am not saying that they take total blame, or deserve what happend, just that they missed signs along the way somewhere.

Sometimes, there are no signs. A true sociopath/psychopath can blend with everyone else, be charming, sweet, kind, etc. when it suits their needs, and turn and snap before you even knew what hit you.


Oh come on. The kid obviously has serious mental issues that go far beyond video games. "Similarly minded people"--you mean all mentally ill folks should be thrown on an island?

I agree with Sequoia; the kids needs some seriously intesive therapy. I also agree with her in that he did it because he was refused the game, not because he was reenacting it.

He had already played the game at friend's houses. So he had access to the game. It was not the game that made him violent. It was likely an impulse move. He went to get the game, found the gun, and made a snap decision.


Read up on Psychopathy. The kid is probably afflicted with it. You can't reason with this sort, nor treat them. The best thing to do is lock them up for good or execute them.

Completely agree.


I really dont think a video game had anything to do with it. I think the parents are just looking for a way to cope and chose the most likely "sinful" thing to blame. Its horrible what happened, but realistically there HAD to be underlying issues.

I don't think the parents are blaming the game. For one thing, mom is dead and can't blame anyone. The father, due to his religious beliefs, did not want the son playing the game. The kid had a temper tantrum.


I don't. I think kids are quite capable of taking things to extremes with full awareness of what they are doing. Some just don't care. Impulses and anger can be a lethal mix. I don't agree that every case of uncontrolled impulses and rage mismanagement makes a person mentally ill. It makes them mentally lazy and in certain moments twisted. But that doesn't mean they are without the faculties to know right from wrong or to have thought of a different means of handling the situation. The boy needs to go away, away from his family, away from society. He needs alot of time to reflect on his ill conceived notions of right and wrong and justified responses. If his parents couldn't teach him that the penal system certainly will. I'm sure he'll get psychologically probed an and prodded and perhaps he'll get somewhere in understanding how he got to this point in his life, but whatever the outcome beyond that he will go away for a long time to think about how stupid that one moment in his life was. I hope he thinks long and hard. I don't care how sorry he is. This is one of those times where acting first and apologizing later doesn't cut it.

If he is truly psychopathic/sociopathic, which the lack of remorse in the courtroom, and the guilt avoidance seen when he wouldn't look at his mother's autopsy photos seems to indicate, then he will never learn anything. He will never change.

Psychopathy is an interesting mental... state of being. It's hard to call it a disorder, because psychopaths can, and do, function very well in society. Many politicians are likely psychopaths. Skilled liars, with no remorse for their actions.

A psychopath will do what they feel is in their best interest, and what they feel they can get away with. It seems the kid thought he could make it look like a murder/suicide. It was dad's gun, and I doubt he thought he'd get caught. If sister hadn't come when she did, he likely would have gotten away with it. Or at least wouldn't have been caught so soon, with such an easy case.

Games do not make a psychopath, it's just something that someone is, from birth, and one can only hope that they never have the need to kill.

[aranarose]

Oh come on. The kid obviously has serious mental issues that go far beyond video games. "Similarly minded people"--you mean all mentally ill folks should be thrown on an island?

I agree with Sequoia; the kids needs some seriously intesive therapy. I also agree with her in that he did it because he was refused the game, not because he was reenacting it.

I think by "similarly minded people" he meant psychopaths who have already killed or seriously injured people.

As in, let's not pay for them to get the royal treatment in prison, paying for appeal after appeal after appeal. Let them be entertainment, and advertising dollars can pay for it.

[HetHert]

A psychopath will do what they feel is in their best interest, and what they feel they can get away with. It seems the kid thought he could make it look like a murder/suicide. It was dad's gun, and I doubt he thought he'd get caught. If sister hadn't come when she did, he likely would have gotten away with it. Or at least wouldn't have been caught so soon, with such an easy case.

Games do not make a psychopath, it's just something that someone is, from birth, and one can only hope that they never have the need to kill.


That statement describes most children to a "T". I wonder if the parallel between child developement and means to continue to mature has anything to due with being/becoming a psychopath.

I agree with everything else. The bolded statement just struck me as describing child developement behavior. It certainly descibes the 4 year old in our house perfectly.

[Anthony41671]

Except I don't think even the dumbest or most disturbed kid could imagine they'd get away with shooting their parents.

ETA: If they do think they can get away with it...or even worse, don't care...then therein lies the issues I'd think.

[aranarose]

That statement describes most children to a "T". I wonder if the parallel between child developement and means to continue to mature has anything to due with being/becoming a psychopath.

I agree with everything else. The bolded statement just struck me as describing child developement behavior. It certainly descibes the 4 year old in our house perfectly.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a correlation between psychopathy and emotional maturity/immaturity. In psychopathy, there is a distinct lack of empathy, and children don't really become empathetic to others until a later stage.


Except I don't think even the dumbest or most disturbed kid could imagine they'd get away with shooting their parents.

ETA: If they do think they can get away with it...or even worse, don't care...then therein lies the issues I'd think.

Why not? There are lots of people who think they can get away with lots of things.

[SphinYote]

The article said that the kid was homebound for a year after an injury AND a Staph infection.

Did anyone think to do an MRI for a brain lesion? Staph CAN cause brain damage, and in this case, given that it caused severe spinal damage that left him partially paralyzed, I would bet money that there IS brain damage.

[Anthony41671]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a correlation between psychopathy and emotional maturity/immaturity. In psychopathy, there is a distinct lack of empathy, and children don't really become empathetic to others until a later stage.



Why not? There are lots of people who think they can get away with lots of things.

...and therein lies the problem.

There's not a whole lot of getting away with this stuff anymore...just watch Cold Case Files, American Justice, and Forensic Files for a few days and you'll realize it. More and more cases of this stuff are getting solved everyday.

hell, they just supposedly figured out Adam Walsh's case and that's probably the most famous of them all.

[Lunacie]

The article said that the kid was homebound for a year after an injury AND a Staph infection.

Did anyone think to do an MRI for a brain lesion? Staph CAN cause brain damage, and in this case, given that it caused severe spinal damage that left him partially paralyzed, I would bet money that there IS brain damage.

These are the questions I was wondering as I read all the other nonsense in this thread. Brain injuries can lead to some very violent and rage-type behaviors. I don't know if the kid himself, or the parents, or the doctors were all unaware that he was experiencing some very deep rage, but it doesn't sound like he had displayed any "psychotic" or seriously rebellious behaviors as a child.

Simple but chronic pain can also lead to rage-type behavior, and doctors are more and more unwilling to treat chronic pain as they are being charged with lawsuits for being "pill pushers", which I find so ironic since most doctors begin any treatment by writing a prescription or three.

[SerenityMoon]

"You're my son," Petric responded. "You're my boy."

He wouldn't be my son anymore. Sorry.

And how did I know at least one person was going to blame the ebil and oh so violent video games?

Sequoia said it perfectly...if it's the fault of the games, then how is it that all the normal kids and adults playing them don't go around blowing the heads off their parents and such?

I've played games like counter-strike and other such "horrible" video games for as long as I can remember. I've yet to shoot a single person. Imagine that.

Maybe it's because I'm a little more well-adjusted than that, and I don't have the mental issues this kid obviously has.

[Laisrean]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a correlation between psychopathy and emotional maturity/immaturity. In psychopathy, there is a distinct lack of empathy, and children don't really become empathetic to others until a later stage.

I heard the early warning signs of future psychopathy in a child is if they like to kill/torture animals, start fires, or if they frequently wet the bed at a late age. It is true that children are childish and care about what they want and what they can get away with, but usually what they want is to stay up late, watch tv, eat candy, play games, etc. Its usually fairly benign stuff that doesn't harm anyone except maybe giving them cavities or something.

Its the lack of empathy that you have to watch out for. Selfishness is a part of Psychopathy, but a person could be very selfish without being a Sociopath. They also have to have a complete lack of caring for others, and that's not true with the majority of children. Look for the ones starting fires and torturing animals, and there you'll find your future Jeffrey Dahmers and Scott Petersons.

[Caitlin.ann]

He wouldn't be my son anymore. Sorry.

And how did I know at least one person was going to blame the ebil and oh so violent video games?

Sequoia said it perfectly...if it's the fault of the games, then how is it that all the normal kids and adults playing them don't go around blowing the heads off their parents and such?

I've played games like counter-strike and other such "horrible" video games for as long as I can remember. I've yet to shoot a single person. Imagine that.

Maybe it's because I'm a little more well-adjusted than that, and I don't have the mental issues this kid obviously has.

Finally, something I can definitely agree with!

[Philosophia]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a correlation between psychopathy and emotional maturity/immaturity. In psychopathy, there is a distinct lack of empathy, and children don't really become empathetic to others until a later stage.

There are many different types and levels of psychopathy. I don't know whether this person is psychopathic but, if he is, he'll be on the lowest ring. If anything, he's probably narcissistic in nature.

It's also difficult to look for any early warning signs. Torturing animals, as sad as it is, isn't always a precursor for psychopathy. Also, there are some murderers who don't do that. Starting fires isn't necessarily a symptom of psychopathy. If they are caught young enough, fire starting can be stopped.

[Sequoia]

These are the questions I was wondering as I read all the other nonsense in this thread. Brain injuries can lead to some very violent and rage-type behaviors. I don't know if the kid himself, or the parents, or the doctors were all unaware that he was experiencing some very deep rage, but it doesn't sound like he had displayed any "psychotic" or seriously rebellious behaviors as a child.

Simple but chronic pain can also lead to rage-type behavior, and doctors are more and more unwilling to treat chronic pain as they are being charged with lawsuits for being "pill pushers", which I find so ironic since most doctors begin any treatment by writing a prescription or three.

That's funny... our doctor isn't a "pill pusher". In fact, I think I've only ever met ONE pill-pushing doctor (who didn't necessarily have a medical backing to be pushing pills), and she was doing it out of the kindness of her heart... because she wanted to do SOMETHING, not nothing.

But I do wonder about this kid, if he DID have some kind of brain damage. Brain damage can make you do incredibly irrational things.


He wouldn't be my son anymore. Sorry.

And how did I know at least one person was going to blame the ebil and oh so violent video games?

Sequoia said it perfectly...if it's the fault of the games, then how is it that all the normal kids and adults playing them don't go around blowing the heads off their parents and such?

I've played games like counter-strike and other such "horrible" video games for as long as I can remember. I've yet to shoot a single person. Imagine that.

Maybe it's because I'm a little more well-adjusted than that, and I don't have the mental issues this kid obviously has.

Jeeze, I grew up playing these games. I played a kung-fu game on the Nintendo... does this make me a black belt? I played Mario Kart... does that mean I automatically knew how to drive an actual car? If you push a bright colored button on a controller and the gun on the TV fires, it does not teach you how to aim and use a gun.

Then again, it's not like guns are that difficult to use... even a crude, rudimentary understanding of how to use a gun will suffice to murder someone, especially at close range. Guns are not sophisticated items, in the practical sense of using them. Point and pull trigger. But even a video game isn't going to teach you that... somewhere along the line, somebody told the kid how to unlock the safety (assuming it had one) and pull the trigger.

[Philosophia]

But I do wonder about this kid, if he DID have some kind of brain damage. Brain damage can make you do incredibly irrational things.


Depends on where the brain damage had occurred (for example, the prefrontal cortex). But it could be brain damage.

However, he did try to make it look like a murder-suicide by handing the gun to the father and, according to this article (http://www.chroniclet.com/2008/12/17/psychologist-petric-spoke-about-shooting-parents-before-killing_122/), he was playing Halo 3 up to 18 hours a day at his friends place (he had stayed with his friend for a couple of days but returned home a week before the shooting). From the same article I linked to, the relationship between himself and his father were very strained.

[Inward Visionary]

Just the sight of this kid gives me the creeps. I grew up with a few kids with the same demeanor. It isn't the video games. For some, the video games are an outlet for their violent minds, because most know better. But still, some of them live violent lives. Criminals, rapists, drug dealers, anarchists. I know that if my son had the look of this kid, I would be worried. Maybe he was acting out in rage of his father's repression. I don't know what his home life was like. Maybe his parents were blind to it or in denial. Nobody wants to believe their child is a criminal. We all want to believe we raise our kids better than that. Still, kids these days are more a product of their environment. There are always going to be outlaws, criminals, psychopaths, etc. This could just be another kid wanting to be remembered. That thought he was proving a point to society. "How dare they take away a video game!" A lot of pent up anger can make people do very irrational things. Though, I don't believe his parents deserved this. He is still a young kid, and will most definitely regret this decision later in his life, if not now, while the reality of it is kicking in.

[Infinite Grey]

I'm just saying it seems that a lot of people are thinking his parents deserved to have their brains blown out which isn't really fair, IMO.

Have you seen Jesus Camp?

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6RNfL6IVWCE

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=dD2Hyiitpys

[Meadhbh]

Don't get me wrongs its a horrible thing that happened. But when people do something like that they do because something is wrong with them. Not because they happened to play halo 3. But when it does happen people want a reason for people acting the way they did. My take on this sort of thing is along the lines of he ate bread to maybe bread is to blame.

[Caitlin.ann]

Have you seen Jesus Camp?

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6RNfL6IVWCE

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=dD2Hyiitpys

I have and I am disgusted by it, though I still hold the belief that being subjected to such an environment is not an excuse to attempt double homicide over a video game.

[Nox_Mortus]

I have and I am disgusted by it, though I still hold the belief that being subjected to such an environment is not an excuse to attempt double homicide over a video game.

It's not an excuse, but it is a potential underlying cause. not saying the parents deserved it or anything, but theres a fairly good chance that his upbringing was a contributing factor in thiis.

[Caitlin.ann]

It's not an excuse, but it is a potential underlying cause. not saying the parents deserved it or anything, but theres a fairly good chance that his upbringing was a contributing factor in thiis.


As would be the fact that he's completely mental!

[Nox_Mortus]

As would be the fact that he's completely mental!

well, the point was that his upbringing may be a large part of why he's completely mental.

[Glowy]

We only know one side right now. It is not a good one. We are all in agreement that this young man had some sort of issue. Did his parents understand and acknowledge it? We don't know.

I agree that one can not blame a video game any more than one can blame a song.

I really think Phiolosophia said it best
"There are many different types and levels of psychopathy. I don't know whether this person is psychopathic but, if he is, he'll be on the lowest ring. If anything, he's probably narcissistic in nature. "

I do not think his parents are to blame for his crime. I think there is just more to it.

It is just tragic all around.

[Miabella]

I have and I am disgusted by it, though I still hold the belief that being subjected to such an environment is not an excuse to attempt double homicide over a video game.

I agree with what you are saying and its odd cuz I come from a strict roman catholic background. I grew up on the bible, attending chruch, hell i even helped run a youth group in my chruch. But we never went to this extreme and thought we may have been taught to suppress some feelings/emotions I dont think its right to blame otheres for your actions. Children who have been abused and raped while growing up dont always become abusers and rapists. We need to teach our young to be responsible for thier actions and learn respect. What makes me very sad here is to see how little people have respect for live. This child who is not really a child that much. At the age of 17 must understand and be taught right from wrong. It scares me to think what the childred of our tomorrow thinks and the way they behave. Killing, hurting, getting pregant and raising children when they have no idea what they are doing....This makes me so sad and mad......When will they learn..

[Raxeph]

well, the point was that his upbringing may be a large part of why he's completely mental.

It's hard to say, really... it could have been a contributing factor... but he still had a choice, didn't he? He didn't have to go and murder them, nothing was forcing him, he still... had a choice. Hmm. :hrmm: How much restraint does a person have when they're insane? To go and do it and set it up as a murder/suicide, now that would seem to indicate a degree of planning. He admitted to the psych he'd thought about it in weeks prior.

[Nox_Mortus]

It's hard to say, really... it could have been a contributing factor... but he still had a choice, didn't he? He didn't have to go and murder them, nothing was forcing him, he still... had a choice. Hmm. :hrmm: How much restraint does a person have when they're insane? To go and do it and set it up as a murder/suicide, now that would seem to indicate a degree of planning. He admitted to the psych he'd thought about it in weeks prior.

psychopathic people can still make complex plans, they aren't all raving lunatics. I don't think anything forced him to do anything, all I'm saying is that if he was completely sane he likely would not have done this and that his upbringing is likely a contributing factor to his mental issues.

[Laisrean]

You guys got it all wrong; its neither guns or video games that are to blame for this stuff, but that damned hippie music the young folks play on their itunes and etunes and whatnot. I'm talking about stuff like Charles Manson and Metallica. Damn hippies! They are probably the same sorts protesting the war, too.:toofless:

[Phoenix Blue]

I'm talking about stuff like Charles Manson and Metallica. Damn hippies!
Charles Manson's the murderer. Maybe you were thinking Marilyn Manson? :lol:

[Raxeph]

psychopathic people can still make complex plans, they aren't all raving lunatics. I don't think anything forced him to do anything, all I'm saying is that if he was completely sane he likely would not have done this and that his upbringing is likely a contributing factor to his mental issues.

Yeah... it just got me thinking about the topic of mental illness and things like how people say 'voices' made them do something. Do they have a choice to follow the voice or not? That's what I was thinking... but things would be a lot simpler if we could answer questions like that, I guess. :hrmm: And indeed, I think he was probably unbalanced already, and his upbringing didn't help... but exactly how much of a negative impact his upbringing had on his mental state isn't certain and I don't think any of us can really state as such, merely make hypotheses. :uhhuhuh:


Charles Manson's the murderer. Maybe you were thinking Marilyn Manson? :lol:

Yeah, but ol' Charlie played music as well, didn't he? :hehehehe:

[Phoenix Blue]

Jeeze, I grew up playing these games. I played a kung-fu game on the Nintendo... does this make me a black belt? I played Mario Kart... does that mean I automatically knew how to drive an actual car? If you push a bright colored button on a controller and the gun on the TV fires, it does not teach you how to aim and use a gun.
Although, oddly enough, driving after playing Grand Theft Auto for too long did make me a bit more prone to aggression. :blushake:

[Bettie]

Yeah, but ol' Charlie played music as well, didn't he? :hehehehe:

He did - he recorded with Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys, amongst others.

[SerenityMoon]

Jeeze, I grew up playing these games. I played a kung-fu game on the Nintendo... does this make me a black belt? I played Mario Kart... does that mean I automatically knew how to drive an actual car? If you push a bright colored button on a controller and the gun on the TV fires, it does not teach you how to aim and use a gun.

Then again, it's not like guns are that difficult to use... even a crude, rudimentary understanding of how to use a gun will suffice to murder someone, especially at close range. Guns are not sophisticated items, in the practical sense of using them. Point and pull trigger. But even a video game isn't going to teach you that... somewhere along the line, somebody told the kid how to unlock the safety (assuming it had one) and pull the trigger.

So did I, so did I. And so did my husband. And, if my children so desire, they won't be kept from playing them, either (granted, I will mind the ratings, and my 6 year old won't be playing Grand Theft Auto like so many other idiotic parents allow).

So much of society needs something concrete to blame. They don't know the insides of this kid or what went on in his head, so they have to find something they can point to and hold and try to get rid of as the source of his aggression. With this type of blaming person, it's never the person themselves...it's always the music or the game or the TV or the weapon.

And you've got that right about guns. You don't need a video game to teach you how to shoot one. It's pretty easy to figure out.

[Iris]

Also on Monday, a tearful Mark Petric testified that his son came up behind him as he sat on the couch and said, "Would you guys close your eyes? I have a surprise for you."

Petric, 45, said he "expected a pleasant surprise" and closed his eyes. Then his head went numb. As the blood poured from a bullet wound in his head, he realized his wife, Susan Petric, 43, was lying dead on a nearby loveseat, shot in the head, arms and chest.


Wow. That is COLD.

[Lunacie]

I heard the early warning signs of future psychopathy in a child is if they like to kill/torture animals, start fires, or if they frequently wet the bed at a late age. It is true that children are childish and care about what they want and what they can get away with, but usually what they want is to stay up late, watch tv, eat candy, play games, etc. Its usually fairly benign stuff that doesn't harm anyone except maybe giving them cavities or something.

Its the lack of empathy that you have to watch out for. Selfishness is a part of Psychopathy, but a person could be very selfish without being a Sociopath. They also have to have a complete lack of caring for others, and that's not true with the majority of children. Look for the ones starting fires and torturing animals, and there you'll find your future Jeffrey Dahmers and Scott Petersons.

I would like to see a source for the incidence of bedwetting and child violence?

From what I've read myself, bedwetting is very common for kids with neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger's and even ADHD. I don't think the statistical ratio for psycopathic killers is any higher among the neurologically challenged than it is for the neuro-typical. I'm willing to read any sources that say that may be true though.

[Laisrean]

I would like to see a source for the incidence of bedwetting and child violence?

From what I've read myself, bedwetting is very common for kids with neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger's and even ADHD. I don't think the statistical ratio for psycopathic killers is any higher among the neurologically challenged than it is for the neuro-typical. I'm willing to read any sources that say that may be true though.

I don't know the source, but it was the same one that also listed abusing animals and pyromania as possible indicators. But remember, possible indicators just means only that - possible.

[Lunacie]

I don't know the source, but it was the same one that also listed abusing animals and pyromania as possible indicators. But remember, possible indicators just means only that - possible.

O...kay... I did my own Google and didn't have to go any further than the entry for Wikipedia. You've only got it half right:



An extended period of bedwetting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedwetting) past the preschool years that is not due to any medical problem.


(bolding added by me)