Ohio Teen Convicted of Killing His Mother Over the Video Game Halo 3

Halo 3 is a video game that has the player shooting and killing aliens that have taken over the earth. Many players have been said to become obsessed and even addicted to the game but perhaps none more so than that of now 17-year old Daniel Petric who was convicted of killing his mother and attempting to kill his father over the video game (source: news.yahoo.com).

Petric was tried as an adult and convicted of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and other charges and faces the maximum penalty of life in prison without parole. His plan took weeks to scheme and his entire motivation behind the unspeakable acts was that his father would not let him play the video game (source: news.yahoo.com).

The defense attorney in the case tried to plead not guilty by way of insanity stating that Petric was addicted and therefore less responsible for his actions. Judge James Burge said he believed that Petric didn't think his parents would be gone "forever" if he killed them, but rejected the defense's plea because Petric took so long to hatch his plot (source: news.yahoo.com).

Prosecutors said Petric planned on killing his parents for weeks because his father would not let him play the video game Halo 3. Then on the night of the shooting in October of 2007, Petric used his father's key to open up a lock box that contained a 9mm handgun and the Halo 3 video game. Petric then went into his parent's room and asked them to close their eyes as he had a surprise for them. Petric's father testifies that he obliged thinking a nice surprise was coming, and then his head went numb from a gunshot. While Petric's father survived his gunshot wound to the head, his mother did not. When the boy fled the scene all he took with him was the Halo 3 video game (source: news.yahoo.com).

After the verdict was announced, Petric turned to look at his father who was seated behind him in the court room. Petric's father had recently said he had forgiven his son and gave him a nod of encouragement. No date has been set as of yet for sentencing (source: news.yahoo.com).

Halo 3 is a video game that was made exclusively for the Microsoft X-BOX 360 by a company called Bungie LLC. Microsoft would not comment on the case beyond saying, "We are aware of the situation and it is a tragic case (source: news.yahoo.com)." Not only is it a tragic case, it a horrific case. This case shows that there is too much emphasis being allowed to be placed on video games by teens. It's sad to see that the games we let our children play are desensitizing them to violence and distorting their version of reality.