8-year-old accused of killing father, another man

[ronjie 0]

Tighter gun controls would have prevented this!

So would forced abortions.

This story makes me wonder what happened in this boy's life that led to him killing 2 people.

Probably pissed off about BHO becoming president.

you don't like kids much, do ya ?...unless the topic is about child pornography like your earlier one.... you are about demented as it gets !!!

Drama Queen much?

His earlier topic had NOTHING to do with child pornography. NOTHING.

YOU seem to be the one obsessed with child pornography.....

I'm not the one that wanted to help two children to have sex ! you are the one as mentioned in your earlier post. akdiver is obviously demented when it comes to children. and you play right into it. Edited November 8, 2008 by ronjie

[Nagishkaw 510]

0h boy!

[Laura+Tom 2]

Personally I don't think the gun should have been left somewhere where an 8 year old could easily get it. But it happened. Would he be too young to go to juvenile prison or other institution? I know in the UK it's 15 but not sure what happens to kids younger than that.

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

This is what happens when just anyone can buy a gun then leave it laying around. Tighter gun controls would have prevented this!

The gun controls we've got are already unconstitutional and unenforceable. Tighter laws would not have stopped this at all.

i'm still trying to find in the op where it says the gun was left lying around.

[Marilyn. 340]

well, who knows if the gun was "lying around" but it was somewhere where the boy could have access to it...

[PlatyPius 5]

well, who knows if the gun was "lying around" but it was somewhere where the boy could have access to it...

Not saying this is the case, but it's a rural place in Arizona; guns tend to be less hidden in rural areas. The gun could have been in the house, yes. Or it could have been in a neighbour's house.

Point being - it's best to not blame people for their own deaths (the TRUE definition of a tragedy) until all of the facts are released.

[Ling Ling 22]

Please stop baiting other members. Thanks.

Eh???

AK got a warning (:

But here's a case we I agree with him and even Nutty.

Gun control is not the issue, child control is.

"Guns don't kill people, 8 year old people kill people".

First of all...let's remember that we're suppose to ASSUME the suspect is INNOCENT.

But for the sake of this thread, let's look at what the problems could be that would bring him to murder.

The two problems i see are:

1. A lack of proper parenting.

If the child is the murderer, it's apparent that he didn't have a loving relationship with his father.

It's also apparent that he wasn't taught to respect life and/or the capabilities of firearms.

2. Society is becoming de-sensitized to violence.

I read a study about how 40 years ago, the average 10 year old (by way of Television) had seen perhaps

1 or 2 murders...today the average 10 year old may have seen thousands.

We have so many movies and TV shows that show murders, as well as the video games that have violence

and homicides, that the average 8 year old is less likely to talk about going out to play catch, and more likely

to talk about virtually killing someone in a video game.

Combine lack of parenting, with a violence rich society, and you will have children younger and younger

capable of heinous crimes such as murder, and even rape. Some may think this is about guns, but it's

really about anger and violence. If there were no guns, people would still kill people. This was not about

someone wanting to use a gun, it was about someone wanting to harm/kill another person...by any means

possible. We can't eliminate all the means of violence in a home, but we might be able to reduce the desire

through education and nurturing by parents instead of the TV as babysitter.

I'm not a proponent of censorship per se, but children do need to be taught more about how to live a good life,

before they start being taught about how to end life.

[Not Available 0]

Yeah it makes me wonder if the father did something to the little boy to have him set off like that.

[PlatyPius 5]

Yeah it makes me wonder if the father did something to the little boy to have him set off like that.

It also makes me wonder about that, but with the roommate included. However, it doesn't go beyond mild wondering at the moment; I'd hate to disrespect a murder victim.

[Ling Ling 22]

Yeah it makes me wonder if the father did something to the little boy to have him set off like that.

It also makes me wonder about that, but with the roommate included. However, it doesn't go beyond mild wondering at the moment; I'd hate to disrespect a murder victim.

I don't think it's disrespecting a murder victim. It's human nature to wonder why an 8 year old's innocence has been lost to this heinous crime.

His innocence has certainly been lost by the event, but it would be inhumane not to consider that there must have been some innocence lost prior,

if indeed he is a murder at 8 years of age.

[Peikko 1,575]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/07/child....index.html'

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) -- An 8-year-old boy is charged with murder in the shooting of his father and another man in a rural community in eastern Arizona, authorities said Friday.

The boy was charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the death of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, and 39-year-old Timothy Romans, St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick said.

Police arrived at the home within minutes of the shooting Wednesday, Melnick said. They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room.

The boy, who prosecutors say had never been in trouble before, initially denied involvement in the shooting but later confessed, Melnick said.

Police have not said what they think the boy's motive was.

Defense attorney Benjamin Brewer argued Friday that police overreached in questioning the boy without representation from a parent or attorney and did not advise him of his rights.

"They became very accusing early on in the interview," Brewer said. "Two officers with guns at their side, it's very scary for anybody, for sure an 8-year-old kid."

A judge determined at a hearing Friday that there was probable cause to believe the boy committed the killings. He is being held at the Apache County juvenile detention center.

St. Johns is a community of about 4,000 people about 170 miles northeast of Phoenix.

You can bet that if the two men had conspired to kill the 8 year old, they would be on death row already, but I bet the little ####### gets away with it. His lawyer is already posturing.

Murder is necessarily a horrible thing - if we take the right to life as a moral constant which I am sure most of us do. That said, to speculate on an item of news like this is simply futile. We are not privvy to enough information to make more than idle speculation on motive and opportunity.

That said, the OP's attempt to sensationalize by suggesting that due process would be denied adults murdering a child if the tables had been turned is simply ridiculous - but somewhat par for his particular course.

All that can be hoped is that the law is up to the task of taking this tragic situation and providing a sensible course of action that will satisfy the needs of society and those of the victim's families as well as the families of the accused.

What I think can legitimately be said is that fortunately such cases are extremely rare, despite some people's perceptions, and one can hope that continues to be the case.

[Ling Ling 22]

Agree with all your points, but ask that you consider this speculation and discussion is natural,

especially events that we don't have all the information on.

We speculate and discuss as our own way of trying to make sense of this tragic event. It's part of

the natural human desire to cope with it.

Not commenting and speculating is akin to being completely desensitized to these heinous acts.

No, I'm not implying that you have been de-sensitized. If you were, you wouldn't have read and commented.

[Peikko 1,575]

It does appear as thought it is natural, but these leaps from the small number of facts that we know about to 'this wouldn't have happened if' is just nonsensical. Oh well, I just think it's really, really sad. So many lives have been irrevocably altered by this horrible act.

[Ling Ling 22]

It does appear as thought it is natural, but these leaps from the small number of facts that we know about to 'this wouldn't have happened if' is just nonsensical. Oh well, I just think it's really, really sad. So many lives have been irrevocably altered by this horrible act.

Sorry Madame Cleo, maybe I went a little overboard. I was just trying to rebut those that think guns are the primary problem

in gun related violence. Violence is the primary problem.

[Scott & Lai 12]

I was just trying to rebut those that think guns are the primary problem

in gun related violence. Violence is the primary problem.

Ita; guns are simply a morally neutral tool. The problem is in the heart of those who would use them for criminal purposes. Lacking guns, they would simply use a different means to accomplish their evil intents.