Teen Shot Parents Because They Took Away Halo 3

[thegilseller]

Prosecutors at the murder trial of 17-year-old Daniel Petric claim that the teen shot both of his parents, killing his mother, because they wouldn't let him play Halo 3.

According to prosectors, Petric, 16 at the time of the shooting, was forbidden to buy Halo 3 by his parents, Mark and Susan Petric. The teen snuck out to purchase the game anyway, and was caught by his parents upon his return. The game was locked up in Mark's lockbox, along with a 9mm handgun.

Mark Petric, a minister at the Life Assembly of God in Wellington, Ohio, testified that soon after on the evening of October 20th, 2007, his son entered the family room with a request.

"Would you guys close your eyes," Daniel Petric asked. "I have a surprise for you."

It was then that Daniel Petric allegedly shot both of his parents in the head, killing his mother instantly. Mark Petric survived due to the timely arrival of his daughter and her husband, who had arrived to watch a Cleveland Indians game.

It's just an amazingly heart-wrenching story, made even more so by the following exchange between father and son related by Mark Petric during testimony:

"Dad, I'm so sorry for what I did to Mom, to you and to the family," Daniel Petric said, according to his father. "I'm so glad you are alive."

"You're my son," Mark Petric responded. "You're my boy."

Lawyers for the accused delivered a brief statement at the opening of the trial, explaining that their client had be under a large amount of stress after being homebound for a year due to a snowboarding accident with nothing to do but watch television and play video games.

I really don't know what to think about this case. The parents were doing what I always suggest parents do, monitoring their son's gameplay and making sure he doesn't play what they don't approve of. Sadly in this case it backfired.

Without knowing more about the family - specifically about Daniel Petric - there's no real way of knowing why this happened. I suspect the boy's lawyers might have a point about being homebound for a year, especially if Daniel was an active teen, as the snowboarding incident seems to suggest.

It's a tragic story that really leaves me with conflicting emotions. On one hand, the fact that a teenager can feel so entitled to something that he'd kill for it worries the hell out of me. At the same time, the fact that the father can forgive him for what he had done is a strong testament to the power of both family and forgiveness. Interpret it how you will.

Daniel Petric killed mother, shot father because they took Halo 3 video game, prosecutors say [Cleveland.com]

Tragedy: Teen Shot Parents Because They Took Away Halo 3

What's wrong with kids these days? No respect, not a single bit of it. When my parents took games away, I knew why and didn't go off and get a shotgun to take to their heads.

[Kwijiboe]

Saw this on N4G.com. Best comment so far:

"This guy has issues. And I think the parents should have let the guy play Halo 3. He's already 17 so why not? And I'm sure the dad would have liked it more if he killed the Covenant and not his wife. "

[thegilseller]

Wow..what a comment.

[Bingbong]

I wonder if they have Xbox in big-boy jail?

[BRP]

He still has one more to go before he finishes the fight.

[Null]

What's wrong with kids these days? No respect, not a single bit of it.

I have a slight feeling that shooting your parents in the face is a bit beyond "No respect"

[Maguspk]

He still has one more to go before he finishes the fight.

i lold

Tragic story though, I'm surprised the dad forgives him from the sounds of it.

[thegilseller]

I have a slight feeling that shooting your parents in the face is a bit beyond "No respect"

I was more or less generalizing what I see these days, not really commenting on the story. A couple months ago I saw a child in a stroller on the subway, had to be around 4ish just get up scream at the mom for a bottle, then hit her.

[Metah]

He still has one more to go before he finishes the fight.

Oh you card

[Katlan]

"Dad, I'm so sorry for what I did to Mom, to you and to the family," Daniel Petric said, according to his father. "I'm so glad you are alive."

"You're my son," Mark Petric responded. "You're my boy."

wtf, I'd have my child locked up for the rest of his life if he shot my husband over a video game... and the family is trying to defend the kid... lol

[Kiro]

He's so grounded.

[Kuya]

What an interesting conclusion to come to. Shooting your parents because they wouldn't let you play Halo 3.

[Firedemon]

Wow, I'm totally speechless at the dad's comment, that's unbelievable. Didn't something like this happen a couple months ago or was this the same thing?

[Beckwin]

this is what happens when you mix Halo, firearms, and religion-inspired sheltering parenting.

goddam what a fucked up story. ugh.

[Kuya]

Oh wait, his dad is a minister? Oh well, that explains the interesting conclusion.

[Mizango]

^ I approve of this message.


brb laughing at comments.

[guartz]

I love these headlines. What's next? "Man robs bank because he can't afford a sandwich."

[Kiro]

THE MASTER CHIEF DOES NOT LOOK KINDLY UPON WEAKNESS! KILL KILL KILL THE UNIVERSE MUST BE SAVED!

[Khamsin]

Oh wait, his dad is a minister? Oh well, that explains the interesting conclusion.

Why? Do you think there are deeper issues, or issues that span his time growing up in the household, that explain it better than "because they wouldn't let him play Halo 3", or something?

[Kuya]

Why? Do you think there are deeper issues, or issues that span his time growing up in the household, that explain it better than "because they wouldn't let him play Halo 3", or something?

This kind of thing probably doesn't happen for a single reason. Along being locked in the house for a really long time, possibly having a bad day, and possibly having over bearing parents might have lead to this. I do often hear that a minister's kids are often the wildest, but this situation is a bit too wild.