Police seize violent games in shooting investigation

Acting on advice of Jack Thompson, sheriff's deputies search home of suspected Louisiana killer and confiscate M-rated games.

Last week, sheriff's deputies conducting an investigation into the murder of a 55-year-old Louisiana man seized a number of games rated M for Mature from the home of a 16-year-old suspect, according to a report in the Baton Rouge paper The Advocate. The action was taken at the suggestion of controversial Florida attorney Jack Thompson.

Thompson told The Advocate that he suggested the sheriffs look for violent games in the youth's house because he felt the killings mirrored a scenario from Grand Theft Auto. The original reports indicated that the victim was beaten to death and shot in the face by the 16-year-old and a 17-year-old accomplice.

"Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer," Thompson told the paper.

While the police did seize the games, it's unclear exactly what role they will play in the investigation. West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Captain Spence Dilworth told the paper, "I think it goes beyond video games, but who's to say?"

716 Comments

  • DragFire24

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:47 am PT

    **** this ****** idiot! hope you a bad luck for all your future in destroying liberty of who plays these games. only idiots can get influenced by games. you'r one of them :/ [HOPE YOU READ THESE COMMENTS YOU LOOSER]

    (are you thinking that an 8 year old kid that played gta sa armed with a rocket launcher can kill you now?)

    directed to thompson...

  • Dzjaansis

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:41 am PT

    *little rick face* WHAT? WHAT? ROFL

  • FFObsessed

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:26 am PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer"

    thats the best quote ive ever heard!

  • Cpazrun

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:26 am PT

    Jack Thompson: "the Video Games, they're everywhere precious, we must destroy them! Yes my love we'll do itsss! Wait, but the gamers, they hatesess us! Then we kills them too my love!!!"

  • Flan_Man

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:26 am PT

    Everyone knows that anyone who ever killed has played a video game, right? Oh, yeah. Hitler, Stalin, Mao. All avid gamers. Cortez and Andrew Jackson too. How many people play video games? How many of those have killed people in real life? Now how many people who haven't played video games have killed people? Wow...

  • Jedo

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:16 am PT

    I really really want to cuss my way into hell right now...
    I'll try not to...

    The comment that only a hitman or a gamer shoots his victims in the face is the most moronistic EVER. Anyone who has any kind of professionalism or simply common sense in them (perhaps an IQ above 80 or some basic knowledge of biology) wil shoot their victim in the head.

    Beating someone to detah is common when you want to REALLY HURT SOMEONE AND ENJOY IT. In case that holy guy didn't know, that is normal behavior in the range of violent behavior.

  • bcfish

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:03 am PT

    Jack Thompson just exhausts me. I'm just amazed that the Louisiana police would LISTEN to this wacko!

  • Thanos_of_MW

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 6:59 am PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer," Thompson told the paper.

    Wow... this guy needs some serious psychotherapy. So only hit-men and video gamers can shoot people in the face. What a moron. What about snipers, soldiers, cops or anyone with good aim? If a kid did this, how about blaming the parents for not raising him better? Not taking him to a psychologist when they saw something was wrong?

    And why is the police listening to this idiot? Is he an elected official? No, he is not.

  • Xosen_oni

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 6:47 am PT

    GREAT! LETS BLAME THE GAMES...

    If a crazy man start shooting in a movie lets blame GTA, if someone kill another in a satanic ritual lets blame the RPGs.

    This is clear an theory of old guys who don't undestand games and want a reason to disallow Mature games in stores!

    Ok, I know there is people out there with a weak mind who play violent game and try to do it in real life... but what the hell!! Blame all games because of a few incidents?

    Real crazy...

  • jimbo102671

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 6:24 am PT

    I've heard that we all get crazy as we get older. If I needed anything to make me a believer of that, it's this nonsense that Thompson keeps doing.

    He does the same thing over and over expecting different results. Isn't that in line with insanity?

  • 35mmfilm

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 6:15 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • jimbo102671

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 6:12 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • ToddFromDilbert

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 6:06 am PT

    To Sh1nka:

    You know, it's funny, but the violent crimes that Thompson blames on video games aren't even on the rise at all if you look at the big picture.

    http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htm

    Note the release of "DOOM" (the first FPS) in December late 1993, and how the pink line clearly goes DOWN since then. Anyone else remember reading that wed comic (I think it was CAD, may have been PennyArcade) where Thompson gets mollested by "PONG: San Andreas"? I can't find that ine, but here's a different one:

    http://cad-comic.com/comics/20051012.jpg

  • ericrodrigues

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:58 am PT

    I think this boy is not a good influence on our kid, people says he is a Video Gamer! *scared*

  • Briantb_2008

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:51 am PT

    this is pure crap. Grand Theft Auto does not put a gun in your hand and shoot someone.

  • shasam712

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:34 am PT

    Apart from the fact that Jack Thompson's a racist biggot and predujice against everyone under the age of 21, its not like someone that age is not going to own an M rated game like GTA.

    Plus, I have played video games all my life and have never shot anyone in the face, SO THERE! There goes your stereotyping out the window.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:32 am PT

    its a pretty unfashionable view to hold, but i honestly feel that these games DO TRAIN PEOPLE IN KILLING. but nobody has the nous to admit it! nobody ever accused Sonic or Mario of shotgun-tutoring.

  • insinuendo

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:13 am PT

    They used to blame Rock & Roll, now they blame Rockstar.

  • futs22

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:07 am PT

    Ho hum....more blah blah blah about the link between real world crime/violence and violent video games. Videogames are not the only violent material out there. Try movies for instance or even books!

  • tanzadog

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:01 am PT

    I have an 8yr old girl you loves to play GTA S/A, she dosnt actually do the missions she just likes driving around on a bike or on the jet pack, she knows its only a game and just treats it as a bit of fun. She has never once tried to shoot me or run me down on her push bike. trying to blame games for murder is just stupid, these people can't have been sensible good living folk one day then have a few hours on GTA and turn into homicidal maniacs. they must have had issues before.

    Tanza

  • azalus_wanga

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 5:00 am PT

    I own all the gta's AND postal 2!!!! I must put Charles Manson to shame!!!

  • matsgora

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 3:09 am PT

    In ya FACE!

  • zackarkywar

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 2:42 am PT

    Oh wait I mean yahoo

  • zackarkywar

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 2:41 am PT

    lmao! I looked up jack thompson on google, and it said, Also try: I hate jack thompson

  • zackarkywar

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 2:40 am PT

    Jack thompson, you attension whore.

  • rvinsc

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 2:28 am PT

    thompson that idiot

  • vojkec

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 1:25 am PT

    I think he didn't finished the mission THE END OF LINE in GTA: SA and got angry like i did but i don't have a gun instead i have sensimilia...think about that bye

  • vojkec

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 1:19 am PT

    such fools tryin to be cool and stuff, shot in the head extra points the be add,
    you punk ass police looking for answers in game, what a shame, let the rockstar producers be the blame, now i gonna go and buy all GTA game

  • kittencrusher

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 1:15 am PT

    "Nobody shoots someone in the face unless they are a hit man or a VIDEO GAMER". The ignorance of this statement is staggering and shows the stupidity of Mr. Thompson very clearly. Mr. Thompson; go away.

  • Nawras

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 12:46 am PT

    Unless you're a hitman or a videogamer? Well I play a lot of Mario - how come those who jump off buildiings aren't linked to videogames?

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 12:12 am PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer," Thompson told the paper.

    Thompson, you f**king a$$hole. That's a very BS statement; to think all gamers will pick up a gun after acting out a similar scenario in a video game. I'm sure you have at least one relative that plays video games, so do you consider them gun-wielding killers? You probably know of friend who's a gamer, or they know a gamer, what about them? I'm sure you know someone who has played at least one mature game as well, maybe even GTA.

    What a blasphemous statement coming from this guy. Guaranteed, he's not being viewed in a positive light in my mind; more like he's being viewed in a donkey suit.

  • smenshik

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 12:12 am PT

    Yup its the video games fault that the kid was able to get his hand on a gun in the first place..

  • jimmy-fly

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 12:10 am PT

    i hate this guy so much, i hate him so god damn much

  • EmperorKCK

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 12:05 am PT

    So if I got Aliens vs. Predator 2 (M rated game) then I will go out and cut down people's head for eating or collection? That's completely BS.

  • Kracka2205

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 11:55 pm PT

    ya know that comment about nobody shooting anyone in the face unless theyre a gamer or hitman? It's so not true. This guy who used to live like 3 houses down from mine was a drug dealer and one night someone broke in to his house and tried to steal drugs from him, and the drug dealer shot him in the face with a shotgun. And he wasn't a hitman nor a gamer. Just a regular crackhead. So it's not true.

    Also, what is up with Thompson blaming everything on games?

    Global warming? Blame Rockstar.

    National deficit? Blame Ubisoft

    Monopolization? Blame EA (ok that one's kinda true but you get my point)

  • Itsleaking

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 11:45 pm PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer,"
    HAHAHAHA.
    If this were true there would be a hell of alot of people shot in the face.

  • panquecas

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 11:37 pm PT

    so by playing videogames, i will have the hit of a professional killer
    i feel sorry for you americans who have to listen to all this crap, really
    that sheriff is a complete moron

  • danny_s1

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 10:58 pm PT

    Yeah, let's blame Rockstar for the war in the Middle East. Opps, sorry already taken.

  • A_Grizzle

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 10:51 pm PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man, a video gamer, or vice president of the united states."

  • DJ_Steady

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 10:50 pm PT

    What garbage... Everyone wants a quick escape and point the finger at the first thing... So, every car crash that happens and the person had played GTA, it's the games fault...

  • zavano

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 10:01 pm PT

    Here is a question how many video gamers have shot a man in the face we wont turn you come on and come forward.

  • thref2004

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 10:00 pm PT

    I... hate... Jack Thompson... SO MUCH!!! "You don't shoot a guy in the face unless you're a hitman or a video gamer." GAHH!

  • zavano

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:59 pm PT

    I hope they dont use the video game idea to try to convict the kids or they are going to get off any good defense attorney will be able to discredit the video game evidence.

  • 2sweet316

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:40 pm PT

    It's true. Do you know how many video gamers I know that have shot people in the face. It's a looooooong list. By the way I was being sarcastic ( Well Duh!)

  • 9mmSpliff

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:34 pm PT

    lol no one shoots someone in the face unless its games....lol ok there buddy.

  • digihead2000

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:32 pm PT

    I am so scared for the the Wii. They will use Nintendo's controller next by saying that it played a role in a murder somehow. WHY OH WHY!!!!!

  • dc0079

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:31 pm PT

    "he felt the killings mirrored a scenario from Grand Theft Auto", He did that in GTA? How sick is he? As soon as I saw the name, I don't care about this article anymore.

  • paul_eku

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:21 pm PT

    nobody shoots someone in the face unless they are totally insane to begin with jack thompson you idiot

  • TongLong

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:21 pm PT

    If they found someone dead and rolled up in a carpet, would Jack Thompson point fingers at Katamari Damacy?

  • KOSMOSEngineer

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:18 pm PT

    So....why doesn't he search for evidence that this boy is a hitman?

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