An 11-year-old boy from Wisconsin, who allegedly shot his mother, Quiana Mann, in the face after she refused to buy him a virtual reality headset, has been deemed competent to stand trial as an adult. The decision was made by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jane Carroll, despite the boy’s defense attorney expressing doubts about his ability to assist in his defense.
The incident occurred in November when Mann was doing laundry at home. The boy reportedly accessed a gun from a lockbox in the house using a key. He initially claimed the shooting was accidental, intending only to scare his mother. However, upon further questioning, he admitted it wasn’t accidental and that he was angry with his mother for waking him up early.
The boy’s family members had previously raised concerns about his long-standing anger issues and frequent outbursts. They also revealed that he had been undergoing therapy. A day after Mann’s death, the boy purchased the virtual reality headset he wanted using his mother’s Amazon account.
The tragedy has deeply affected the family, with Mann’s sister, Rhonda Reid, revealing that the boy had a history of mental health issues and was receiving treatment for mood disorders.
The boy, who was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in January, is scheduled to appear in court on September 5 for a preliminary hearing. In Wisconsin, children as young as 10 can be charged as adults for certain severe crimes, including first-degree intentional homicide.
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