GTA Kills three people

[Hivetyrant]

Grrr, once again, they blame the videogame [img]graemlins/1pissed.gif[/img]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Feb 15, 2005 — A lawsuit claims the video game "Grand Theft Auto" led a teenager to shoot two police officers and a dispatcher to death in 2003, mirroring violent acts depicted in the popular game. The suit announced Tuesday seeks damages from the game's manufacturers and two stores that allegedly sold it to Devin Thompson, now 18. An attorney for relatives of two of the victims said Thompson, who is charged with murder, had played the video game repeatedly. Thompson is accused of killing the three men in June 2003 after being brought to the Fayette police station on suspicion of driving a stolen car. Thompson allegedly grabbed one of the officer's guns, shot him and the other two, then fled in a patrol car. The suit alleges Thompson purchased "Grand Theft Auto III" at the Gamestop in Jasper and "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" at the Jasper Wal-Mart when he was under 17. The games, which depict police killings and other acts of violence, are rated M, meaning they are appropriate for those 17 or older. "What has happened in Alabama is that four companies participated in the training of Devin … to kill three men," attorney Jack Thompson told The Tuscaloosa News, which reported the suit's filing. Named in the suit are Wal-Mart Stores and Gamestop along with Take-Two Interactive Software, the manufacturer of the games, and Sony Computer Entertainment, the maker of the PlayStation 2. Messages left for officials of three of the companies were not immediately returned. There was no answer at the listing for Gamestop in Grapevine, Texas. At a December hearing, authorities said Devin Thompson, when he was apprehended, told officers, "Life is a video game. You've got to die sometime."

[ 02-16-2005, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Hivetyrant ]

[Legolas]

I wonder how they plan to win that case.

[Bungleau]

'Course, it's not his fault... it never is.

Betcha he was listening to Metallica, too. Didn't they get blamed for someone listening to their music?

[Hivetyrant]

Them and Maryln Manson...
Pretty stupid if you ask me, they just want someone to sue.

[Xen]

It's always the videogame's fault. How pathetic. They can't find a good reason so they blame the game.

[Callum]

He was probably an avid DnD guy as well. And had at least one black t-shirt. G**damn devil-worshippers!

[ 02-16-2005, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

[Vaskez]

LOL, the claim that it's the video game's fault is laughable. Where were the parents and/or social services? Blame them if you wanna blame someone other than the actual criminal. Anyone stupid enough to take a video game that seriously should be locked up anyway!

[Jorath Calar]

Yes but your honor this game was sold to 3 million other people and they have not killed one human being... maybe there is something wrong with this boy...?"


[img]smile.gif[/img]

[TheGodThatFailed]

From what he said, "Life is a video game" i'd say he did get the idea from the game. I suspect he is just very, very weak minded. Didn't something similar happen with the game Manhunt? I think it is possible that very, very gullable people are influenced by video games. It certainly does with wrestling, i remember hearing a story of a boy killing his brother by performing a wrestling move on him, throwing him through a glass table becuase they fell out. If that doesn't show a weak minded person doing something seen done by something popular, i don't know what else to say.

@ Callum - Your evil-worshippers and black t-shirt comment - Not everyone who wears black and plays DnD is evil. When writing this message, i had a DnD book open, wearing nothing but black, and had an inverted cross around my neck - Am i not perfectly nice? Excuse my big headed comment [img]tongue.gif[/img] But i'm just saying, not al evil-worshippers are so bad, although i don't worship evil, i just think you're being sterio typical, people who dress like me immediatly worship evil? Nah.

[johnny]

That's it, i'm gonna sue the parents for raising a moron.