Wisconsin 10-year-old who shot mom dead for not buying him a VR headset charged as an adult
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: A 10-year-old boy was reportedly charged as an adult after he shot and killed his mother last week for not buying him a virtual reality headset.
The fatal shooting took place near 87th and Hemlock streets at around 7 am on Monday, November 21. Forty four-year-old Quiana Mann's son was angry at her for waking him up early that morning. Police initially believed the boy, who has not been named due to his age, was twirling the gun on his finger when it accidentally discharged a bullet and shot Mann. However, they later learned that he got the keys to his mother's gun lock box the night before.
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According to WTMJ, the boy reportedly told investigators that he meant to shoot at the wall only to "scare" his mother. After shooting Mann in the face, he alerted his 26-year-old sister, who discovered the body and called 911. The morning after killing his mother, the 10-year-old allegedly logged onto her Amazon account and purchased the item — an Oculus Virtual Reality Headset. He reportedly attacked his seven-year-old cousin the same morning, prompting his aunt to take him to his grandmother's house where child welfare workers were present. The boy apparently told his grandmother, "I’m really sorry for what happened. I’m sorry for killing my mom," and then asked if his Amazon package had arrived.
As mentioned, Milwaukee police initially ruled the shooting accidental. They let the perp stay with his family due to his age. However, the boy's family contacted the authorities with serious concerns the next morning. His older sister, who made the 911 call, told police that her brother had had "rage issues" all his life and that he had been seeing a therapist who gave him a "concerning diagnosis." The police complaint noted how the boy "becomes very angry and acts out.
The family recounted to police an instance in which the boy, then 4, swung their puppy until it howled in agony. Mann was allegedly forced to get rid of the pooch fearing for its safety. In another instance just six months prior to the shooting, the boy allegedly filled a balloon with a flammable liquid and set it on fire inside the home, causing extensive damage in the process. He reportedly told his mother that he "hears five imaginary people talking to him" —two sisters, an older woman, a man, and a second man who he called “mean.”
That said, the boy allegedly admitted to police that he understood guns could kill people. Prosecutors said he told them how he got his mother's set of keys for the gun lock the night before. "He went to the basement and took up a shooting stance. He admitted knowing that guns can kill people," investigators noted in the complaint. "Before he fired the shot, he closed his left eye. His mother walked in front of him when he tried to shoot the wall to 'scare her,' whereupon he admitted that he shot her in the face when she was approximately 3 feet away from him. After shooting his mother, he put the gun in the living room closet, and then afterwards, informed his older sister." According to WISN, Mann had set up cameras around the home, but they were unplugged at the time of the shooting.
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The boy is now charged with first first-degree reckless homicide and is currently being held on a $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing on December 7. If convicted, he could face 60 years in prison. Meanwhile, Mann's loved ones have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help the family and cover the funeral and other expenses. Her funeral is scheduled for Friday, December 1. It's worth noting that the state of Wisconsin allows criminals to be charged as an adult if they are 17 years and older. However, charging a 10-year-old as an adult is practically unheard of, WTMJ reported.