New Mexico Sheriff seems to blame violent video games for family murder

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/2...d-heavily-with-violent-video/?test=latestnews

The New Mexico teenager accused of killing his parents and three younger siblings was ‘involved heavily’ with violent video games prior the shooting, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said.

Nehemiah Griego, 15, who was 'frustrated' with his mother, was arrested Saturday following the deadly shootings at his home in a rural area southwest of Albuquerque where he lived with his family, Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said.

The sheriff said Nehemiah Griego got excited when he had the chance to discuss his penchant for violent video games with investigators. One of the games he mentioned was "Modern Warfare," Houston said.

The teen waived his right to arraignment in adult court Tuesday on charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death, and a judge ordered him held without bond. The case was assigned to public defender Jeff Buckels, who didn't immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.

The sheriff's office identified the victims as Greg Griego, 51, his wife Sarah Griego, 40, and three of their children: a 9-year-old boy, Zephania Griego, and daughters Jael Griego, 5, and Angelina Griego, 2. All appeared to have gunshot wounds to the head.

His mother was shot and killed at 1 a.m. as she slept, Houston said. The 9-year-old was killed shortly after her mom while she was awake and 'distraught,' he said. Houston said the 2-year-old was also shot while she slept and the 5-year-old was awake when she was killed.

The father was shot unexpectedly five hours later, when he returned home from work. Police believe he was unaware what had just occurred at the home, Houston said.

The suspect told authorities he was annoyed with his mother and had been having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, according to a probable cause statement. The sheriff says he had been contemplating the shooting for "some time" and had intentions of killing more people at a local Walmart. He also contemplated killing his girlfriend’s parents, the sheriff said.

Instead, they say 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego texted a picture of his dead mother to his 12-year-old girlfriend, then spent much of Saturday with her. The two went to the church where his father had been a pastor, and Griego eventually confessed to killing his parents and three younger siblings.

Houston says Griego had planned the attack for a week, but it's unclear if he ever actually went to a Walmart or why he changed his mind. He said he had planned to randomly shoot more people, then die in a shootout with law enforcement.

I'm getting really sick of this. It's like nobody wants to hold anybody accountable for their own actions. There's always something else to blame. Nobody wants to stand up and point at someone and say 'CRAZY' anymore.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Truly sad. If he had any balls, suicide would've sufficed.

I agree, Techboy, crazy is crazy. Doesn't matter what he was into..

 

[HomerJS]

When was the last time a perfectly sane person after playing 12 straight hours of Halo just decided, I'm going to go out and kill someone??

 

[Tom]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/2...d-heavily-with-violent-video/?test=latestnews



I'm getting really sick of this. It's like nobody wants to hold anybody accountable for their own actions. There's always something else to blame. Nobody wants to stand up and point at someone and say 'CRAZY' anymore.

I don't see anywhere in this article where he's not going to be accountable for his actions ?

Its quite possibly true COD had something to do with his familiarity with the idea of killing people.

Same thing probably happens with movies, tv shows, songs, books. It is true that video games, more than most kinds of electronic entertainment, involve interaction of the person and simulating doing things, whether its killing people or racing a car.

The point isn't to ban games, the point is to be honest about it and aware of it. Lots of parents have no idea what kids are doing, that isn't how it should be.

And adults can get obsessed with games, or other things, and if they do they should seek help or their friends or family should encourage them to do so.

So it isn't about attacking games and getting rid of them. Game enthusiasts should embrace the reality and encourage the development of ways to help people who need help.

Like joining other groups in trying to destigmatize mental health treatment and reaching out to people who might be lonely. Encourage friends and fellow gamers to diversify their interests, have getogethers apart from gaming.

 

[Matt1970]

Just throwing out the "crazy" label is a copout. We have had mentally ill since day one on this planet and they didn’t have the desire to blow away 6 year olds in schools. And if a video game or violent movie causes you kid to lash out at 6 year old kids then you haven’t done your job as a parent. There are millions of people playing these games and they aren’t all out blowing people away.

 

[cwjerome]

Just throwing out the "crazy" label is a copout. We have had mentally ill since day one on this planet and they didn’t have the desire to blow away 6 year olds in schools. And if a video game or violent movie causes you kid to lash out at 6 year old kids then you haven’t done your job as a parent. There are millions of people playing these games and they aren’t all out blowing people away.

Poor parenting seems pretty widespread, yet cannot be the only focus. The reality is a lot of decent people make it through horrible parents and there are plenty of great parents who have a disturbed kid.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Millions play violent video games, one goes on a murder spree, a sure cause and effect shown there.

 

[HumblePie]

Ban all video games. And all media that shows any form of sex or violence. We should all seek to the examples of our Amish brethren. A true life of austerity is the only way to protect the children. No one ever died to violence while living the simple way of life as the all-mighty intended. Electricity and fooseball is the devil. I say NO MORE! Take all your books, and polyester, and xboxes and light a pyre that will show our worthiness to the lord watching us from the sky! We are but worms.



Oh fuck it, time to play some more Call of Duty.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Poor parenting seems pretty widespread, yet cannot be the only focus. The reality is a lot of decent people make it through horrible parents and there are plenty of great parents who have a disturbed kid.

Yep. This will be all sorted out though since Obama wants the CDC to do a study on video games. He'll fix it.

 

[Thump553]

Poor parenting seems pretty widespread, yet cannot be the only focus. The reality is a lot of decent people make it through horrible parents and there are plenty of great parents who have a disturbed kid.

My sister personally knew these people quite well. From what she has told me, I greatly, greatly doubt parenting skills were ever even remotely an issue.

Sad as it is to say, mental illness coupled with the typical teenage view of immortality pushes them to do some horrendous things at times. Easy access to powerful firearms turned an everyday situation into a horrible tradegy-again.

 

[Sonikku]

The kid played video games. He also went on a killing spree. Therefore, killing video games sends you a killing spree. That's just logic.

 

[Humpy]

...From what she has told me, I greatly, greatly doubt parenting skills were ever even remotely an issue...

Boy was born into a family of criminals who kept guns laying around the house. Later, he killed his entire family. Seems like the result of skillful parenting to me. :\

 

[Jaskalas]

The boy should be executed.

 

[sunzt]

people like that sheriff pisses me off... now i'm gonna have to play more borderlands 2

 

[werepossum]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/2...d-heavily-with-violent-video/?test=latestnews



I'm getting really sick of this. It's like nobody wants to hold anybody accountable for their own actions. There's always something else to blame. Nobody wants to stand up and point at someone and say 'CRAZY' anymore.

Well said.

 

[Thump553]

Boy was born into a family of criminals who kept guns laying around the house. Later, he killed his entire family. Seems like the result of skillful parenting to me. :\

Where did you get the idea that the parents were crimminals? That's certainly not in the linked article. The father was a pastor or former pastor per the linked article.

As to whether the decision of the parents to have accessible weapons in the home, I agree that is irresponsible, but a sizeable fringe block of the USA population lead by the NRA claim that is not only their right but their duty, in case they have to stand up to the government, etc. When we wean people off of this stupidity then we will have less tradegies like this. The videogame thing is a red herring, millions of people play fps without slaughtering their families in real life.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

When was the last time a perfectly sane person after playing 12 straight hours of Halo just decided, I'm going to go out and kill someone??

That is because the issue isn't video games, or guns, or violent movies, or music, etc. The real issue is this kid was beyond crazy and a ticking time bomb.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Boy was born into a family of criminals who kept guns laying around the house. Later, he killed his entire family. Seems like the result of skillful parenting to me. :\

Bullshit claim and you are in fact as awful as the NM sheriff in seeking excuses.

If he had stabbed his mother to death, along with his little brother and eventually his father would you be saying the same thing?

 

[Humpy]

Where did you get the idea that the parents were crimminals? That's certainly not in the linked article. The father was a pastor or former pastor per the linked article.

Bullshit claim and you are in fact as awful as the NM sheriff in seeking excuses.

Father was a long time gang member with a long criminal record. Kids uncle was a gang member/state politician with a long criminal record. As is often the case with these types, they were magically "reformed" when they found Jesus at the local mega-church.

You can be a lazy ass and spout claims of BS all you want. Or just Google it.

I guess it could be just a simple coincidence that this criminal, gun collecting, christian family raised a kid that killed everyone in the house, but I don't think so. It is well established that children who do this kind of thing usually have messed up parents.

 

[Matt1970]

Poor parenting seems pretty widespread, yet cannot be the only focus. The reality is a lot of decent people make it through horrible parents and there are plenty of great parents who have a disturbed kid.

It shouldn’t be the only focus but right now it isn’t even on the table. Tell me what is really different now than when these mass shootings weren't a common occurrence. We've had guns here since we crossed the ocean and there are more restrictions on them now than ever. There was a time when just about everyone had a 6-shooter strapped to their side and they weren’t walking into schools and blowing kinds away. Seems like access to guns is not the problem.

We have also had mentally ill since day one here and they weren’t walking into schools and blowing away kids either. Besides, the truly mentally ill can’t tell the difference between right and wrong and these mass shooters knew what they were doing was wrong.

I will tell you this. Kids are raised differently now. Back in the day you got taught values. You got taught the value of human life. If you have a different assessment of what you think is different between now and then, I am all ears.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Yet millions of other people play video games and don't go on a killing rampage. People who blame video games, television, movies, music, the media, etc. are no different than people blaming private possession of firearms. Tons of people enjoy all of these things without being affected in any way. The few people who commit these crimes do so because they are fucking crazy. Being "desensitized" to something doesn't make you crazy. Having an actual genetic or biological issue or having something traumatic happen to you makes you crazy.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Before this it was rock and roll music (see: Tipper Gore), and before that it was comic books (see: Fredric Wertham) . . . . people want scapegoats and easy answers.