Kid Shoots Parents for Taking Video Game

[Leogeddon]

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007..._a_killer.html

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008...ot_dad_ov.html

I expected the video game to be GTA.

ELYRIA — Daniel Petric shot his parents -- killing his mother -- because they wouldn't allow him to play the violent video game Halo 3, prosecutors told a judge at the boy's murder trial Monday.
The trial, on charges of murder and attempted murder, opened Monday for Petric, 17, of Brighton Township. He is being tried without a jury before Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge.
Daniel Petric's friends describe him as an average, upbeat teenager who loves to clown around. Police, though, call him a killer who fired four shots into his parents with his dad's gun. His mother, Susan, is dead; his father, Mark, a pastor at New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, is in critical condition.
The shootings leave one central question: Why?
Daniel Petric was charged Monday with murder and attempted murder, and the Lorain County prosecutor plans to try him as an adult. Authorities said the Wellington teen admitted shooting his parents. Wounds to his mother's forearms indicate she was facing her son, defending herself as he fired the fatal shots.

Police and prosecutors refuse to discuss a motive in the Saturday night shooting, saying that they, too, are looking into the boy's background and statements he made. Was he a great kid who got into trouble for the first time in his life, or was he a troubled teen who continued along his wrecked course?
"There are conflicting stories," said Lorain County Sheriff's Capt. Richard Resendez.

Some family, friends and school officials offer clashing details. He was a boy who scoured his Bible. He loved shooting guns with his father. He was an average student, would keep to himself when he got mad, yet seemed to get along with his parents, who were his first teachers -- he was home-schooled for years.
"Both of his parents were so sweet," said Brittany Willbond, who would go to the Petrics' to worship, as she and Daniel Petric were in the church's youth group.
On Monday, his paternal grandfather, Michael Brockel, told a Lorain County Juvenile Court magistrate that his grandson has been forgiven by his family, church and God.
"Daniel has been a loving child all of his life," Brockel said at a court hearing. "He has never given anyone any trouble. If his mother and father were sitting here, they would forgive him, too."
Brockel, the father of Mark Petric, asked that the boy come home with him, saying the shootings were considered isolated incidents. The magistrate, citing the violence involved, declined. Daniel Petric's next hearing will be Nov. 9.
In court, Daniel looked pale. His brown, short-cropped hair stood out against his khaki jumpsuit, blue flip-flops and red handcuffs that were linked to shackles. He whispered his answers, appearing calm.
He appeared different from the funny high school junior who could pound away on a drum set.
Wellington High School sophomore Valerie Villaneuva said that when Daniel got mad, he would keep to himself, but mostly he was friendly and fun to be around. His friends called him Danny.
Church members said Daniel thrived as the best player on the church's Bible quiz team, being able to quote verbatim long passages of Scripture with ease and did well in regional and state competitions.
Authorities called the charges chilling.
Lorain County sheriff's deputies said Daniel used his father's 9 mm semiautomatic pistol to shoot his parents shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday. He shot his father, Mark, 45, once in the head and his mother, Susan, 43, three times, twice hitting her in both forearms before she was struck in the head, authorities said. Investigators said the wounds to her forearms appeared to be defensive.
The boy's sister, Heidi, and her husband went to the home minutes after the shooting, as they had planned to watch the Indians play the Red Sox with her parents. Her brother refused to let them in; he then raced out the door and headed for a friend's house in Litchfield, Resendez said. He never made it -- he was arrested on the way.
Daniel Petric's image began to emerge Monday. After being home-schooled, he enrolled at Wellington High School as a sophomore, Superintendent Victor Cardenzana said.

He was an average student, earning a 2.7 grade-point average that put him in the middle of his class. Daniel was not involved in sports or outside activities and had never been suspended, Cardenzana said.
"There's nothing that would profile him as a source of violence," Cardenzana said.

The boy's attorney, James Kersey, agreed. He said Daniel is nonviolent and should be released, promising that he would appear for future hearings.
"Just because what happened is horrible doesn't mean he has to be held," the attorney said, later adding: "The boy isn't going to go to Guatemala or Costa Rica. He's going to live with his grandfather."
Daniel's sister Heidi Archer serves as youth pastor with her husband, Andy, at New Life Assembly of God. Daniel has a second sister, Holly, a senior at Wellington High School.
The church was closed Monday. A bouquet of flowers had been left on the mailbox.

[Mutated Turtle]

what the heck

[Deathknight]

wow, that's messed up. Really likes that he screwed up like that but he'll pay big time probably.

[Spitfire]

Well if he never actually got to play the game at least they can't blame Halo 3.

Honestly I think this proves my point that not letting kids play violent video games is what drives them to murder and violence.

[愛]

Bad parenting much?

[Drtooth]

That what'shisname guy is going to have a field day with this one. You know, that guy whos name no one remembers that said how violent games are and tried to ruin them.

[愛]

Jack Thompson? He lost his license to practice law. What a sucker.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Why do children get access to guns?

[cup-mikey-gertha]

A lot of people play video games but dont murder. This boy is screwed up individually. Don't blame the game.

[Anarky]

Did the parents drop any good loot, at least?

[Candy Kappa]

according to alot of people who say voilent games creates murders,
I must be a homocidal sadist that shows no emotion besides joy killing people.

it only happened once and no one can proove it....

[Archon_Turtle]

Originally Posted by Anarky

Did the parents drop any good loot, at least?

oh my ****ing gawd anarchy. You had me laughing for like 10 minutes.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by Archon_Turtle

oh my ****ing gawd anarchy. You had me laughing for like 10 minutes.

I felt a bit bad but I laughed at it too

[Peanut]

Yeah, no one has ever cracked that one in a thread relating to video game deaths before.

When's someone going to come in with the "Double Kill" joke? Come ooooon...low hanging fruit!

[Leogeddon]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Well if he never actually got to play the game at least they can't blame Halo 3.

Honestly I think this proves my point that not letting kids play violent video games is what drives them to murder and violence.

Just not thorough parenting when it comes to guns and whatever else may relate to this.

Originally Posted by Ai

Jack Thompson? He lost his license to practice law. What a sucker.

LMAO! That's what he gets!

Originally Posted by J 1982

Why do children get access to guns?

Because people never expect their own children to grab them when they tell them no.

Don't get me wrong, children SHOULD be educated properly on the gun in the home, but to a certain age such as 8-9 years old. If you teach them properly, there won't be any problems, especially if they have the feeling they have a strong responsibility in the home. Sounds rediculous but it has been done many times before.

Just teach them how to shoot it, why they shouldn't play with it, and why and where the gun is safely stashed. It is hard, but it's doable.
[QUOTE=Peanut;660061]Yeah, no one has ever cracked that one in a thread relating to video game deaths before.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by Ai

Jack Thompson? He lost his license to practice law. What a sucker.

Yeah... that's the one... Who wants to bet he's gonna start saying, "Ha! I told you so! I told you so!" like the smug doofus he is?

Why do children get access to guns?

American thing... second amendment and all that. Why half the world thinks we're dippy, I guess.

[Hannah]

Originally Posted by Leogeddon

Just teach them how to shoot it, why they shouldn't play with it, and why and where the gun is safely stashed. It is hard, but it's doable.

Oh yeah, because children are so incredibly responsible, and don't ever have mood swings or throw tantrums. I work with girls in said age group, and I can count on my fingers how many of them I would, for any reason, teach to use a gun.

[Storm Wolf]

This wasn't a product of violent games...this was a product of a sick/mentally ill individual.

I mean....at 17 he was well aware of the concept of death...and I'm sure he knew the consequences of killing another human being.

Someone here dropped the ball....weather it be his parents or someone else close to him.

I'm sure a lot of things could have contributed as well.

I just will never understand this. When my parents said no....of coarse I would beg....don't most children? I knew when it was final and I wasn't going to be allowed to do something. I didn't kill my parents for it....i just accepted it.

I must be a freak of some sort.....

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Video games are always the "bad guy" nowadays. In the early 1950's, it was comic books. In the 1980's, it was the videocassette recorder.

[MrPliggins]

wow, this happened right in my backyard...and why is it always the friendly quiet guys?