Teen on trial for murder, defense takes aim at stress & video games
by Xav de Matos 
{ Dec 15th 2008 at 4:30PM }
Prosecutors at the murder trial of Daniel Petric claim the teen shot both of his parents, killing his mother, because they would not allow the 16-year-old to play Halo 3. According to the prosecution, Daniel Petric, who now stands trial at 17-years-old, was forbidden to buy the 'M' rated game Halo 3 by his parents Mark and Susan Petric. In response, the teen secretly purchased the game but was caught as he returned home prompting his parents to place the game inside of a lock box, which also contained a 9mm handgun.Mark Petric, a minister at the Life Assembly of God in Wellington, Ohio, survived the shooting, which occurred the evening of October 20, 2007, when his daughter and her husband interrupted the horrific incident taking place. In his testimony, Mark Petric recalled Daniel sitting both him and his wife down saying, "Would you guys close your eyes. I have a surprise for you." Daniel Petric then opened fire on his parents.
Lawyers for Daniel Petric claim the teen had been under a large amount of stress due to a snowboarding accident which left him housebound for a year leaving him nothing to do but watch television and play video games. During testimony, Daniel Petric asked for his father's forgiveness and expressed his regret in the shooting which led to a heart-wrenching exchange that ended with his father exclaiming, "You're my son ... You're my boy."
It's difficult to form an opinion about this situation because the parents of Daniel Petric did exactly what should have been done, regulate their son's gaming habits. Regardless of your opinion, the Petric family story is a tragic one.
[via Kotaku]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Muckrak3r @ Dec 15th 2008 8:36PM
His dad yelling out 'you're my son... you're my boy' is pretty sad.
If my son killed me wife, I would put him down. Screw the court system!
Rick the Prick @ Dec 15th 2008 9:33PM
I'll put YOU down son.
Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 12:25PM
What? You are the support Son!
Kelly @ Dec 15th 2008 4:40PM
guns are bad mmmmkay
ZEBRA NINER @ Dec 15th 2008 4:51PM
Haha! NO, guns are awesome. Buy yourself a handgun before Obama tries to take it.
What a sad story. People do some screwed up stuff to each other.
DemonGSides @ Dec 15th 2008 5:36PM
Dude, Obama can't take away guns... He might re-regulate the assault rifle ban, but he can't violate our 2nd amendment rights.
Stop being a crazy conservative, and be a smart conservative, like the rest of us.
Fifty Three @ Dec 15th 2008 7:52PM
"He might re-regulate the assault rifle ban, but he can't violate our 2nd amendment rights."
Wait... huh? Read that again. Do you know what an "assault rifle" is? It looks scary. That's the only difference. It has any two of the following: Pistol grip, bayonet lug, >5-rd removable magazine, barrel shroud (protects the user's hand from heat), or flash suppressor. It's not full-auto, it's not a grenade launcher, it's not any more dangerous than a hunting rifle. Me, I'm in the process of building my own AR-15 right now. :D
"Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry." – Thomas Frickin' Jefferson.
Anyway, not the place for this. This is about video games killing people, not guns! Back to the topic. ;)
I'll never understand why someone would shoot ANYONE over not being able to play a video game, let alone their parents. It boggles the mind. How could a person possibly think that killing their parents is a good idea? What would it prove? What would it accomplish?
bboston7 @ Dec 16th 2008 5:41AM
53, read the 2nd amendment again, militia have the right to bear arms, not everyone (although the constitution is up to interpretation, this is the common understanding by politicians.)
According to your quote, Bush is a tyrant! He tapped phone lines, took away civil liberties, and declared war without legislative approval to name a few.
david @ Dec 16th 2008 12:06PM
bboston7, no, you are wrong. Read the WORDS of the founding fathers to get a good description of what the 2nd amendment is about. It is clear you do not know your history.
Oh, and here's a good description about the second amendment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GNu7ldL1LM
daniel @ Dec 16th 2008 3:22PM
@bboston, Wow you need some schooling. Obviously you do not know the DEFINITION of militia. Let me quickly quote Websters for you:
mi·li·tia n.
1. An army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.
2. A military force that is not part of a regular army and is subject to call for service in an emergency.
3. The whole body of physically fit civilians eligible by law for military service.
So please now explain to me how I am not allowed to own guns and that only the 'militia' is allowed? I am an ordinary citizen, I am physically fit, and I am not part of the regular army. Looks like I AM part of the militia and I bet that you are too. If the United States was ever invaded by a force that our military could not handle, they would be calling on everyone to fight back with whatever they have. That is also known as calling up the Militia. I hope you have enjoyed your Social Studies lesson for today.
Cody @ Dec 15th 2008 4:41PM
look at that kids face
joeybeast @ Dec 15th 2008 4:48PM
I was gonna say the same.
He looks like a murderer.
He said "I have a surprised for you?" before shooting.
That sick fuck obviously thought about his action.
DBoyFlex @ Dec 15th 2008 5:52PM
He also looks like he is on drugs.
Latin Trident @ Dec 15th 2008 6:15PM
there were several factors here that we need to take into account.
1. the kid looks crazy but you can't judge a book by its cover. but he looks crazy.
2. if his parents were law abiding citizens, they probably couldn't do much to discipline him since the government ties every parent's hand behind their backs.
3. i hope the parents did not buy him the 360. My parents made me buy whatever I wanted with my money that I literally worked for.
4. (ties in with 2) they tried to discipline him later by not allowing him to play rated M games but his disciplinary learning time was over. TOO LATE
5. This kid planned the death of his parents just to play video games. Need I say more?
Isak? @ Dec 16th 2008 3:42AM
Yowza! Check out that Cromagnon eyebrow ridge he has going on. He doesn't look like a murderer so much as a professional rock breaker.
Joe @ Dec 16th 2008 10:49AM
I would lock that kid up just for that face alone.
Tiptup300 @ Dec 16th 2008 2:00PM
Who cares!? You kill someone, you're a fecking murderer. He's obviously not alright in the head, but who cares. Why let him out because he thinks murder is okay?
"Oh I'm sorry sir that I killed my family, it's k, rite, cuz I'm crazy"
No... No it isn't.
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Dec 15th 2008 4:41PM
Godamn.
Try to be good parents - the kid lashes out and tries to kill you.
Don't try to be good parents - the kid "doesn't know any better" and tries to kill you.
Would have been good to know this before I had two children.
Amiculi @ Dec 15th 2008 5:53PM
Explosive nut kids are going to do explosive nut things regardless of what they're exposed to. It isn't a case of video games or even bad parenting more than likely. Just a screwed up person.
His father being a minister surely didn't help. I've never personally met children of a religious leader who WEREN'T screwed up. Most of them are just drug and sex addicts though...
Sukato @ Dec 15th 2008 6:00PM
What a wonderfully ignorant and asinine thing to say!
BLOL @ Dec 15th 2008 6:47PM
I know many kids of pastors, and ministers and whatnot, they're all fine.
Amiculi @ Dec 16th 2008 8:01AM
Quite likely I've just met the wrong ones. All local religious leaders I've met are quite obviously doing it entirely for the money. Run down church, fancy house, cars and boats.
I'll take ignorant but asinine, no, empirically observed.
refinedsugar @ Dec 15th 2008 4:42PM
I fully expect to read lame ass comments here shortly.
c4v3man @ Dec 15th 2008 4:44PM
This is a tragic event, but I hope that judgement is passed onto the correct object, in this case, the child himself. Halo did not cause this murder, neither did the presence of a handgun. Daniel could have just as easily taken a bat and knocked out his parents prior to stabbing them to death. He obviously had deep psychological issues, and I feel for his family.
francisco @ Dec 15th 2008 4:45PM
this is what happens when kids learn from GTA XD GOTY my ass lol
Bitter Kevin @ Dec 15th 2008 4:50PM
This probably had more to do with painkiller addiction than video game addiction.
vanuslux @ Dec 15th 2008 4:48PM
This is the first I realized just how premeditated this was...that he actually sat them down and told them to close their eyes...it was practically an execution. What a bastard.
cloud858rk @ Dec 15th 2008 4:48PM
10 years in jail.
Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 10:50AM
I'm not sure about America, but here in the UK he would be put down for 10 but will get out in 3.
cloud858rk @ Dec 16th 2008 4:02PM
That seems kinda broken doesn't it?
kyle @ Dec 15th 2008 4:56PM
Haha, kid gets pissed and kills his parents cuz he cant play halo 3? Firstly, there are more games that are fun to play, and im sure him being 16, can realize the "bad" stuff making it 'm' rated. Still, im not going 2 kill my rents cuz of some dumb shit like this.
Ryan Hartman @ Dec 15th 2008 4:56PM
So in the end the kid got thier gun AND his copy of Halo from the lock box? Wort, wort, wort.
They need to hide thier shit better though, seriously. Did they keep heroin in the box too? Did they label it the "no-no" box and put everything that might tempt the kid in it, and then hide it in a box of his favorite cereal?
ryan wong @ Dec 15th 2008 5:06PM
wort, wort, wort, wth
luffy @ Dec 16th 2008 1:45PM
LOW LOW LOW LOW... just plain white american news... whats the point of having a gun and been a minister? you trying to take the right path at the same time you trying to protect your love ones... got one thing to say: We are fucked eaither way, with or without guns and god.
Yamikotai @ Dec 16th 2008 9:09AM
"wort, wort, wort, wth"
I was thinking the same thing O_o
Ryan Hartman @ Dec 16th 2008 9:40AM
It's the noise the Covenant baddies make in Halo. I was being facetious. I apologize for my confusing high-brow humor.
Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 12:11PM
I know what you meant.
We can pride ourselves as being too high-brow for these losers. We read the Daily Mail!
Shin @ Dec 16th 2008 6:23AM
My comment was deleted! :x
Kinsey @ Dec 15th 2008 5:26PM
Hmm off topic and yet not.
triscuitbiscuit @ Dec 15th 2008 4:58PM
I am going to think that the jury is going to convict him of voluntary manslaughter. It doesn't seem like it was really premeditated, rather it was his emotions that overwhelmed him and drove him to what he did.
Mazrael @ Dec 15th 2008 5:01PM
what was the suprise?
Shouldn't of the lock-box been locked?
"Would you guys close your eyes. I have a surprise for you." doesn't sound very.. Halo.. so what other games had he been playing? other 'M' games?
He could of got another game (or the parents could of..). Halo 3 is only rated 15 in the UK. it's a fairly tame game.. how does it justify an M rating (which I assume is equivalent of an 18 over here). there's that many high pitched boys voices on the MP, I'd of said it could of been a 12..
Shooting your parents over a game is just stupid, the kid deserves to be locked up, he made the effort to get the gun, and then pull the trigger (at least) twice.. I doubt you can get stressed sitting around at home playing games.. bored maybe..
at least the parents made the effort to monitor his gaming on this occassion, then Halo has a slightly religious theme (the great journey), I noticed the family is religious, would Halo count as blashemy?
BJ is Gooder @ Dec 15th 2008 5:20PM
It's COULD HAVE - as in, his parents could HAVE locked the box. Not could OF...
Stay in school, people..%$#@!
Mazrael @ Dec 15th 2008 7:59PM
yea.. I see my mistake there.. I changed what my mind what I was going to say.. (though it could be a local thing???).. I'm far too old for school anyway.. I'm 27 :D
"Shouldn't the lock-box have been locked?"
Urza @ Dec 15th 2008 5:06PM
I thought the purpose of a gun lock boxes were to keep children from guns... yet he managed to find the key... epic fail parents.
Tungsten Plug @ Dec 15th 2008 5:08PM
ok, so the dad put the game in a lock box. Is his dad Al Gore?
LegendaryRedass @ Dec 15th 2008 5:15PM
Let's see if he has that look on his face when his cell mate makes him change his name to Betty. That punk deserves what he gets. He has two good parents who actually give a damn about him, which is harder to come by these days, and how does he repay them? With a bullet.
Mal F4cti0n @ Dec 15th 2008 6:43PM
Here, here!
Best comment.
I hope he spends the rest of his life in jail. He killed his MOM! In my mind, he will have nothing to offer society put more pain and suffering.
SadisticHam @ Dec 15th 2008 5:16PM
Ban the guy from playing Halo 3 but keep a gun about that he can gain access to.
Parents of the year right there. Excuse me for not giving a damn, shouldn't have a gun in the house.
SadisticHam @ Dec 15th 2008 5:19PM
Bleh give me an edit button, i wasn't finished before it decided to send for me. :(
Carrying on: My point really is the video game is being blamed, the video game didn't shoot anyone.
Why is the gun not getting the blame, the fact it was in the house and the fact it was accessible to a child?
Ban em already, Don't see this amount of crap in the UK.
..Course we do see a lot of knife crime but i think it's safe to say one child with a knife is a bit less dangerous than one child with a bloody gun.
Anticrawl @ Dec 15th 2008 5:39PM
Yes lets ban guns, so we the citizens lose any power we have left from our government. It is the right of a citizen to protect themselves and overthrow oppressive or malperforming government in the US.
The gun didn't kill anyone, a deranged psychotic child did. Regardless of guns, video games or anything else this child was destined to murder someone.
Freedom and responsibility man. This kid needs to be responsible for his own insane actions.