NM: 10-year-old fatally shoots father

[seamusTX]

In Belen, New Mexico, a 10-year-old boy allegedly fatally shot his father around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The fatal injury was a shotgun shot to the back of the man's head.

Police charged the child with 1st-degree murder yesterday.

The father was divorced and had custody of his two children. The state child welfare agency had perviously investigated the family. The agency said it never found evidence of abuse but is continuing its investigation.

Neighbors described the family as "good" and "normal."

This story is evolving rapidly, and some of these links are out-of-date now:
Video: http://www.krqe.com/dpp/video/webcasts/ ... y_20090828" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crim ... 0908281244" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.news-bulletin.com/nb/index.p ... ather.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9AC33502" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hate to see things like this happen. Aside from the personal tragedy, they make the U.S. subject to ridicule from the rest of the civilized world, and every incident adds to the pressure for safe-storage laws and other restrictions.

Belen is a small town south of Albuquerque where a questionable self-defense incident took place earlier this year. I have received no further news of that incident: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 83&t=26092" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[seamusTX]

The boy was charged with murder yesterday.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9BOCCCO1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He apparently used a shotgun, not a rifle:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9BP2LFG0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[KD5NRH]

Neighbors described the family as "good" and "normal."

I'm so glad that most of our neighbors wouldn't describe us as normal.

[seamusTX]

The suspect in this case, now 12 years old, was found competent to stand trial. The trial is not scheduled.

http://www.koat.com/news/28340159/detail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Oldgringo]

The suspect in this case, now 12 years old, was found competent to stand trial. The trial is not scheduled.

http://www.koat.com/news/28340159/detail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

The kid knew what he was doing. Isn't there some Biblical reference to the "age of accountability"? How'd we ever get away from that concept?

Get a rope!