Investigators: Shooter played violent video game

Published 8:18 am Monday, August 26, 2013

CLINTON (AP) — Authorities say the 8-year-old boy suspected of fatally shooting his caregiver is believed to have been playing a video game minutes before he got a gun and fired it into the back of her head.

Detective Don McKey of the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/1dIhd85) investigators cannot say for certain that the video game triggered the boy’s violent action but they are pursuing that line of inquiry.

McKey says 87-year-old Marie Smothers was killed by a single shot from a Colt .38-caliber revolver detectives believe belonged to Smothers.

Email newsletter signup

McKey said the sheriff’s office is classifying Smothers’ death as a homicide, but the final determination will be made by the parish coroner and district attorney.

District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla said the boy cannot be prosecuted criminally because of his age.