Boy, 6, Suspected in Grandfather's Death

The Tuscaloosa News ^ | November 09, 2003 | The Associated Press

[yonif]

A 6-year-old boy suspected of shooting his grandfather to death with a .22-caliber rifle has a history of mental illness and attacking family members, authorities said.

James Zbinden, 59, was found dead at his home Friday after his grandson ran into the street and flagged down a neighbor, Cole County Sheriff John Hemeyer said.

The boy, who has not been identified, is being evaluated at a mental-health facility.

"We believe, at this time, that he killed his grandfather intentionally," Hemeyer said. An autopsy Saturday showed Zbinden bled to death from a single gunshot wound near his armpit.

Hemeyer said Zbinden and the boy were alone together Friday when the boy apparently found a gun that family members thought was no longer in the house. Hemeyer said it was unclear what led up to the attack. "This is a kid who has attacked family members before with no provocation," Hemeyer said.

The boy had been released last Monday from a central Missouri mental-health facility where he was admitted after attacking another family member, Hemeyer said.

Past assaults have involved the boy's younger siblings and his parents, Hemeyer said. He also said the boy has used knives during previous attacks.

Before his legal counsel halted the interview, the boy indicated to authorities that he was responsible for Zbinden's death, Hemeyer said.

A juvenile court will handle the case.

Juvenile "punishment does not exist in Missouri," Hemeyer said. "Everything is set up for the welfare of the child. Certainly, this is one of those instances we have an extremely disturbed child who needs help badly."

[Paul Atreides]

Yet, if he had used a knife, or poison, Gramps would have been less dead.

[Prime Choice]

I'm sure the Left will spin this as a "gun crime," even though the real crime is that the parents and grandparents obviously failed to keep a mentally-ill child in check (and thus paid the price for their ill-advised actions with a life).

[MissL]

Where in Missouri?

[yonif]

Cole County?

[10mm]

The kid is defective. Time for a 21st-trimester abortion.

[I still care]

I've been around kids like this. Not only are they very difficult to "keep in check", but this is one time when parents really need help and intervention from the government - and they often don't get it.

A friend of mine was arrested for child abuse when she would not let her dangerous 14 year old back in the house with the rest of the kids. (He had put her in the hospital the week before, and he had been released from the place they had him) She would NOT let him in the house. She kept telling the police that he was dangerous and she had many little children.

The police arrested her and her husband and took her off to jail. It turned into a big thing down here.

[wimpycat]

The kid sounds like a monster. He's six years old, and he's violent, with apparently no conscience or self-control. Yikes. I don't think there's much you can do with a kid like this.

[Wilhelm Tell]

My guess is that the kid will wind up in a special school, and he will kill many people there during a rampage by the time he turns 16. Or maybe he will wait until he is released when he turns 18 and he will make the national news by shooting up a school, hospital or mall. I am certain that we have not heard the last from this "child."

[ladyinred]

Damion, obviously.
The bad seed.
6 years old!

[Flux Capacitor]

The minimum age I'm willing to consider for death penalty eligibility just keeps getting lower and lower.

-Dan

[holymoly]

Damian, obviously.

Yea, I was reminded of "The Omen" also. Maybe they should shave the kid's head, and look for a birthmark that resembles three sixes.

[Wilhelm Tell]

I'm sure the Left will spin this as a "gun crime" ...

Close, but they are more likely to call this a "gun accident." They will spin this that the child is perfectly normal, and this sort of thing happens all the time in households where a gun is present. Of course, registering handguns and banning "assault rifles" would have somehow prevented this tragedy, they will say.

[Dacus943]

Lets see... Retarded Kid + Available Rifle = Hmmmm???

[GovernmentShrinker]

Frankly, in a case like this, we should think of "euthanasia" rather than "the death penalty". This kid is way to young, and too brain-defective to be held responsible for his actions. Penalties are for those who are responsible for their malfeasance. This kid needs to be put out of his misery for his own sake, as well as for society's.

[templar]

Yet, if he had used a knife, or poison, Gramps would have been less dead.

A gun is soemtimes referred to as an "equalizer" while a knife or poison is not. There is a reason for that. I've never heard of a 6 year old killing an adult with a knife or poison. I have heard of a 6 year old killing an adult with a gun.

[fuzzthatwuz]

Pre-Frontal Lobotomy?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Shades of Dame Agatha's “Crooked House”

[ladylib]

The only thing you can do is put him away for the rest of his life.

I saw an interview on TV with a juvenile court judge in my state. He said he put a young juvenile away for life because of the crimes he committed. Apparently, this kid was a monster and couldn't be rehabilitated.

I didn't think that was possible, but apparently it can be done.

[ChemistCat]

Me too. A kid who would just keep kicking his parents, horrible child, miserable all the time. NOTHING made him happy. I really didn't see that his parents had done anything to make him that way; they tried very hard, but he was just impossible.

Maybe the brain is just not wired right.

It's too bad when you can see the train coming, but you just can't get off the tracks.