An 8-year-old boy intentionally shot dead his caregiver, identified as his grandmother, 87, in Slaughter, Louisiana, last week.
The horrifying incident of the Sandy Hook shooting in December last year prompted renewed gun control policies in the States, including a ban on certain types of semi-automatic guns and magazines. A latest incident in a town in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, has again raised questions over safety of firearms within the house limits.
An eight-year-old boy is accused of intentionally shooting and killing his 87-year-old caretaker, identified as his grandmother, at their home in Slaughter, Louisiana. The victim, Marie Smothers, shared a "normal, loving, relationship" and no motive was found for the murder, the sheriff's department said.
Although the unidentified kid told the police that he shot the woman accidentally while playing with the firearm, the investigation concluded that the boy "intentionally shot Mrs. Smothers in the back of the head as she sat in her living room watching television," the sheriff's department statement said, according to CNN News.
While the authorities continue to investigate the reason for the shooting, the sheriff's department said that the child was playing "Grand Theft Auto IV" minutes before the incident took place.
"By accounts of relatives of the victim, as well as friends of the family, the victim and the juvenile had a normal, loving, relationship. Although a motive for the shooting is unknown at this time investigators have learned that the juvenile suspect was playing a video game on the Play Station III "Grand Theft Auto IV", a realistic game that has been associated with encouraging violence and awards points to players for killing people, just minutes before the homicide occurred," read the police statement, cited by CNN affiliate WAFB.
The eight-year-old boy's identity was not revealed due to his age. The kid will not be charged under the Louisiana law that states: "Those who have not reached the age of 10 years are exempt from criminal responsibility. However, nothing in this article shall affect the jurisdiction of juvenile courts as established by the constitution and statutes of this state."
The child has been released to his parents Thursday night, says the report.
