One does not have to be mentally ill to trash a home as this young man did. One can also have severe anger issues without being mentally ill.
I refuse to call people who are violent or have violent behavior mentally ill when they have a choice . At 15 he knew what he was doing....and it likely isn’t the first time.
Agreed. But, the mom says he is mentally ill and that he's been refusing to take his medication. I will take her word for it.
That does NOT mean his behavior is excusable. It just means that maybe she has been doing the best she can, but now she can no longer control him. In her shoes, I would send him to live somewhere else where his behavior can be controlled. This is too dangerous now, not only for her but also for her other child(ren).