Daniel Petric shot his parents because they wouldn't allow him to play the violent video game Halo 3, prosecutors told a judge at the boy's murder trial Monday.
The trial, on charges of murder and attempted murder, opened Monday for Petric, 17, of Brighton Township. He is being tried without a jury before Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty because of Petric's age.
In September 2007, Daniel, then 16, had sneaked out of his bedroom window to purchase the game at a store against his father's orders. When he returned home, his parents caught him with the game and took it from him. About a month later, Daniel used his father's key to open the lockbox and remove the gun and the game.
Mark Petric, who is a minister at New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, testified that before the shooting on Oct. 20, 2007, his then-16-year-old son came into the room with a question:
"Would you guys close your eyes," Daniel Petric asked. "I have a surprise for you."
Mark Petric said he expected a pleasant surprise. The next thing he knew, his head went numb. He had been shot in the head. Susan Petric, 43, died of gunshot wound to the head.
He said the next thing he remembers is his son shoving the gun in his hand and saying, "Hey Dad, here's your gun. Take it."
Mark Petric was allowed to visit his son in jail over the past year. He said his son has apologized. "Dad, I'm so sorry for what I did to Mom, to you and to the family," Daniel Petric said, according to his father. "I'm so glad you are alive."
"You're my son," Mark Petric responded. "You're my boy." Mark Petric said his son told him he could hardly live with the guilt over what he did.
Daniel Petric's lawyers also gave a short opening statement to the judge. They said their client had been under great stress because of a snowboarding accident that resulted in a severe staph infection.
After I read this tragic story, I speakless. I don't know what to say, is it society's fault, or else? Should we blame games? Some people said the core issue here is simply the gun; others said what really caused this was the kid's psychological problems, in the wrong state of mind anyone is capable of the unthinkable. That's indeed a very tragic story, but anyhow, the fact that the father can forgive his boy for what he had done is a strong testament to the power of both family and forgiveness.
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