BY: News Peddlers
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| Quiana Mann |
A 10-year-old boy allegedly shot and killed his mother in the United States of America because she refused to buy him a virtual reality headset.
The boy initially claimed the shooting was an accident, but later admitted he intended to shoot at his mother.
According to his aunt and sister, he logged into her Amazon account and ordered a headset the morning after she died and has not cried or shown any remorse.
The boy has been charged as an adult with first-degree reckless homicide and is being held in juvenile detention.
The incident occurred just before 7 a.m. on November 21 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Children as young as 10 are required by state law to be charged as adults for certain serious crimes, but lawyers can request that the case be transferred to a juvenile court.
Angela Cunningham, one of the boy's lawyers, stated, "This is an absolute family tragedy."
"I don't think anyone would argue or deny that... the adult system is completely unprepared to meet the needs of a 10-year-old child."
According to criminal charges obtained by the Journal Sentinel, the boy told officers he took the gun from his mother's bedroom and went down to the basement where she was doing laundry.
The boy was "playing" with the gun when it fired, killing his mother, according to Milwaukee police.
The incident will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney General's Office, according to the police department.
They also reminded people to "keep firearms secured with a gunlock and out of children's reach."
However, concerned relatives called the police a day later.
Disturbing behaviour in the past
The boy has a history of "disturbing behaviour," including swinging a puppy around by its tail when he was four years old.
According to his family, he filled a balloon with flammable liquid and set it on fire, causing an explosion that burned the furniture and carpet.
When confronted by his family, the boy claimed to hear imaginary people speaking to him.
The incident will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney General's Office, according to the police department.
On the day of the shooting, he also physically assaulted his seven-year-old cousin.
According to the charge sheet, he told police in a second interview that he tried shooting a wall to "scare her" when she walked in front of him and was injured.
He also explained that he took the gun because his mother woke him up 30 minutes earlier than usual that day, at 6 a.m.