ARIZ BOY 8,ACCUSED OF KILLING 2, INCLUDING DAD

[snowcreature23]

Ariz. boy, 8, accused of killing 2, including dad

*

*

By FELICIA FONSECA, Associated Press Writer Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press Writer – Fri Nov 7, 10:09 pm ET

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – An 8-year-old boy is charged with murder in the shooting of his father and another man in a rural community in eastern Arizona, authorities said Friday.

The boy was charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the death of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, and 39-year-old Timothy Romans, St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick said.

Police arrived at the home within minutes of the shooting Wednesday, Melnick said. They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room.

The boy, who prosecutors say had never been in trouble before, initially denied involvement in the shooting but later confessed, Melnick said.

Police have not said what they think the boy's motive was.

Defense attorney Benjamin Brewer argued Friday that police overreached in questioning the boy without representation from a parent or attorney and did not advise him of his rights.

"They became very accusing early on in the interview," Brewer said. "Two officers with guns at their side, it's very scary for anybody, for sure an 8-year-old kid."

A judge determined at a hearing Friday that there was probable cause to believe the boy committed the killings. He is being held at the Apache County juvenile detention center.

St. Johns is a community of about 4,000 people about 170 miles northeast of Phoenix. How did the 8 yr old get the gun anyways? Mabe we should have a limit on gun controll.This happens everyday.

[Hollow]

i heard this on my local news. very sad. i wonder what could motivate an eight-year-old to kill.

[MusicJunkie]

I think we need to hear the whole story. You never know, maybe the kid was being molested or abused and took matters into his own hands. It's sad but a very realistic possibility why an eight year old would be motivated to killing a parent

[Schmoopie]

Wow, that's sad. There must have been some huge motivation for him to do something so tragic, but I agree that guns should be kept far, far away from children. How do they know it was premeditated? He probably denied it out of fear for what might happen to him. I find it a little strange that they are being so quick to judge if he had no prior history of crime. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Andrea