Charges: Wisconsin boy, 10, killed mom over VR headset

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A ten-year-old Milwaukee boy deliberately aimed a gun at his mom, then shot and killed her, as a result of she wouldn’t purchase him a digital actuality headset, prosecutors stated.

The boy initially advised police that the Nov. 21 capturing was an accident, based on felony fees obtained by the Journal Sentinel. However later he stated he deliberately aimed toward his mother earlier than capturing her. The boy was charged as an grownup final week with first-degree reckless murder.

Wisconsin regulation requires youngsters as younger as 10 to be charged as adults for sure severe crimes, although the boy’s attorneys can search to maneuver the case to juvenile courtroom. The boy, who relations stated has psychological well being points, is being held in juvenile detention.

“That is an absolute household tragedy,” stated Angela Cunningham, one of many boy’s attorneys. “I don’t suppose anyone would deny or disagree with that … The grownup system is completely ill-equipped to handle the wants of a 10-year-old baby.”

The capturing occurred shortly earlier than 7 a.m. on Nov. 21. In line with the grievance, the boy initially advised officers he received the gun from his mom’s bed room and went to the basement the place she was doing laundry. He stated he was twirling the gun round his finger when it went off. The boy was allowed to stick with household, and an preliminary launch from police says the capturing was brought on by a baby “taking part in” with a gun.

A day later, involved family known as police.

The boy’s aunt stated that when she picked up the boy, he retrieved a set of home keys that contained a key to the gun’s lock field. When his aunt requested concerning the capturing, the boy stated he pointed the gun at his mother, and that she advised him to place it down.

The boy’s aunt and sister stated he by no means cried or confirmed regret. In addition they stated he logged into his mom’s Amazon account and ordered an Oculus Digital Actuality Headset the morning after she died. That very same morning, he bodily attacked his 7-year-old cousin.

Relations stated the boy has a historical past of disturbing conduct. When he was 4, he swung the household’s pet round by its tail, the grievance says. Six months in the past, household advised police, the boy crammed a balloon with a flammable liquid and set it on hearth, inflicting an explosion that burned furnishings and the carpet. Relations recalled that when requested about that, the boy stated he hears 5 imaginary folks speaking to him.

After studying these new particulars, Milwaukee police interviewed the boy once more. This time, he advised detectives he aimed the gun at his mother with two fingers whereas in a capturing stance. He stated he tried capturing a wall to “scare her” when she walked in entrance of him and he shot her, the grievance says.

The boy advised police he received the gun from the lock field that morning as a result of his mom woke him up early — at 6 a.m. as a substitute of 6:30 a.m. — and since she wouldn’t let him purchase one thing on Amazon.