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

  • mad_mudokon

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:41 pm PT

    Read any history book. People cause people to kill people.

  • ste90

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:41 pm PT

    Ok what a stupid reason " he felt the killings mirrored a scenario from Grand Theft Auto." Because "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer"
    WHAT?!?! Did i just read thatn right? That is stupid first and formost. He told sheriffs to stop what they were doing and such the kids home because grand theft auto had influenced the killings? What a idiot Jack Thompson is, why does Grand Theft Auto and games seem to be getting blamed for everything these days i mean that person shot someone in the face because he wanted to for his own werid reasons. A game cant make you kill someone unless you totally seperate yourself from reality and forget that killing someone is wrong.
    GTA hasn't done anything wrong here and never has and if people want to commit crimes seen in a game like stealing a car and what not a game cannot be blamed because the actions of the person cannot be judged by a game. They have chosen to commit a crime and a game cant force the person to commit the crime its the persons own choosing. They chose too because they dont realise or do but just ignore it that games are games and are not real life so a game isn't a motive on the act of commiting crimes because people should know that they are just games and thats how they should stay.
    People get shot everyday in tons of malicious and evil ways and games cannot be blamed for the shootings, its what the person chooses to do, so for Jack Thompson to say that GTA specifically influenced the kid is insane. Will GTA and Rockstar every just be left alone and will people like Jack Thompson realise that games are games and some people know that in the real world that killing someone is wrong, so how can GTA be blamed for shootings shouldn't the people blaming GTA know right from wrong? And what can be done in games like GTA doesn't mean that you should do that stuff in the real world? Because i know that when i play GTA i can do anything i want really but does that mean i want to do that in the real world or when im walking down the street? No and thats because i know what that i played a game and that does not mean anything that can be done in game is fine to do in the real world.
    So if Jack Thompson is right everyone who has been shot in the head or killed in anyway it seems to be too now has been because of GTA? Ridiculous absoloutley ridicolous....

  • Stick35

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    Wow dude. . . I mean seriously. . . I play video games and I haven't been to jail or killed/shot anyone. Headshots, snipers aim for them, people in the military aim for them for quick kills, SWAT training you gotta hit the dummie target in the head for a training course. I guess all of those examples fall into video gamers or hitman.

  • Shadow_of_Zar

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    by the same logic jack has, all liers are lawers.. therefore, jack is a lier, there fore we cant trust him, there we must think the opposite of everything he says

  • soundwave1181

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    idiot

  • Fauij

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:37 pm PT

    damn politicians

  • Halo2_fan391

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:35 pm PT

    omfg the public always blame San andreas for almost every crime under the age of 18, like wtf

  • diablusx

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:34 pm PT

    Jack is my hero. I will be just like Jack and see psychic things....I see that a teen in a place is eating a thing that has too much sugar..........I see a man driving a vehicle too fast in that state........I see what Jack is filled with.

  • Islandertj

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    Because we all know, video games start violence right?


    Civil War? Yeah, video games caused that.
    World War I? Yeah, Video games.
    World War II? You guess it! Video games!
    War on Iraq? Not video games, but Bush was found in a room playing a card game by the name of "Free Cell"

  • Royas

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer,"
    Or a violent sociopath with problems that go WAYYYY beyond the scope of any game. Sheesh, when is Thompson going to realize what a jackass he sounds like, and shut the hell up?

  • jimbo102671

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    Next thing you know, he'll claim Mario intices abuse of turtles by kicking their shells to see how far they'll slide or to literally sweep someone off their feet! Jerks like him need to be put in their place!

  • coolsean1

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:25 pm PT

    what would this guy even know about hitmen besides what's he's most likely seen in movies

  • gAmEmAn69

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:25 pm PT

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

  • gAmEmAn69

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:24 pm PT

    Jack Di##head Thompson will say anything to get people turned against violent video games....I honestly think that man lacks a social life, and devotes his complete LIFE to ban violent games in this country.....Seriously, Jackie ol' boy.....GET FU@#IIN' LAID ALREADY!!!

  • Bruce_the_Ugga

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:23 pm PT

    I wish someome would shoot him in the face, one less moron in the world.

  • gAmEmAn69

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:22 pm PT

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

  • gamerdude27

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:22 pm PT

    I am absolutely sick of Thompson. Just because somebody commits a crime, he automatically turns to violent video games for being the cause. I mean, he's giving gamers a bad name. The muderer played a video game; Thompson believes those violent games were the antics behind the crime. Proof anybody? Nothing, despite that fact that Thompson is beginning to make a fool out of himself...

  • ZoSo1975

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:20 pm PT

    "Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer," Thompson told the paper. Now isn't that defamation of character to all gamers? Not to mention the legal system is supposed to operate on the premise that you're innocent until PROVEN guilty in a court of law, put on trial before a jury of your peers. Someone please pin a brick on the donkey!

  • Mechfiend619

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    I remember Jack Thompson saying once that

    " violent video games have repeatedly been used by teenagers as “simulators” to rehearse their own violent plans"

  • GameDestroyer88

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    RISE MY FELLOW GAMERS RISE AGAINST THE FACIST OGRE THAT IS THOMPSON........................sorry guys.......It's that this time....it's personal...for all of us.

  • Guis_Wa

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:17 pm PT

    Jack is right! They should lock up Sam Houser and let the guy who pulled the trigger go. Afterall, if GTA was controlling his mind he isnt responsible for what happened.

    !!!!JOKING PEOPLE CALM DOWN!!!

  • Mechfiend619

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:14 pm PT

    No wonder Jacky Boy got his law license revoked

  • gAmEmAn69

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:14 pm PT

    You know what, I am going to remain calm from any random outburts of anger on this topic, due to the enormous amount of respect I have for Gamespot (you guys rock)....But yes, the article has been stirring up quite a fixation of enflaming anger and rage in my mind.....Especially the quote

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

    Really drew me to examine the more logical and legitimate aspects of this statement....Who says that you have to be a gamer or play GTA or Hitman games to know how to kill another person, or even possess a valid motive to kill someone?....I believe that it is a person's distinct and personal choice for their actions, and being for whatever reason (sadistic or serial killer, angered at the mailman for banging your wife, or just because of jealousy over a co-worker)....be as it may, that does not give Mr. Thompson the right to claim he knows everything that goes on inside of a killer's mind.....I mean ,granted he is only a goddamn lawyer....,not a criminal psychologist for chrissakes.....Anyway, just for future references, please refrain from speaking and stating false and non-factual evidence that make gamers across America look like a piece of dog crap.

  • jimbo102671

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:14 pm PT

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

    This is the ultimate insult! Anyone else think JT should be sued for defamation?

  • ZoSo1975

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:13 pm PT

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

  • GameDestroyer88

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    Seriously....Jack Thompson needs to step outside his little office....look at most gamers and realize that we are not MURDERERS. Thompson has used video games as a scapegoat so many times, that even Bush would be like "Oh GOD THOMPSON STFU!!"

  • bulldog7

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    ya, this is a case of pointing fingers

  • Narwaffle

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:08 pm PT

    ROCKSTAR IS TEH EVILZ! says Jack Thompson.

  • Rubin42

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    I can't believe that anyone actually listens to Jack Thompson...has the guy actually ever won a court case...Crap I need to hide my M-rated games or someone might think I'll kill them...

  • carpepoon

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:04 pm PT

    When is this going to stop?!?! Have these people never heard of an unrelated coincidence???

  • SCARFACELP

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:02 pm PT

    I bet that many killers who do not own violent games or games for that matter don't even get mentioned. This moron Jack Thompson just wants to be able to say " Hey look this killer played violent games" , but what about the ones who don't .

  • alberto2045

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:02 pm PT

    what in the............ listen is not that I am racist but tell me if this dosent only happen in USA tell me if am wrong???? and just because of some stupid kids the games are going to get banned

  • LJGPliskin

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:01 pm PT

    if video games are the only thing besides, being a hitman, that would cause someone to shoot someone in the face, wouldn't you think Jack Thompson would've been shot in the face a long time ago?

  • GameDestroyer88

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:01 pm PT

    and Vash67 NICE!!!! LOL!!

  • racer360

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    i think jack thompson should just die

  • ptown58

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    This should be all over the news so video games and GTA get more advertising and publicity, aren't game sales down a little lately.

    How and why this numskull advises the police should be looked into also, maybe the kids lawers should do some checking.

    This guy sounds like a politician or someone working on being a politician, trying to pretend hes fighting the good fight and hes got an easy target but will fail bigtime.

  • GameDestroyer88

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 6:00 pm PT

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

  • CrazyGama247

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:57 pm PT

    WTF u cant blame a game 4 sum otha kids PHSYCO PATHIC WAYS!!!

  • Chikimefuiki

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:57 pm PT

    This dude is on crack!

  • DrKill09

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    "GTA made me do it!", "Heavy metal music made me do it!", "my pants made me do it!"... I am so SICK of these lame excuses, and liar politicians.

  • Sgt_So_and_So

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    Hmm... well, I can't wait till he gets the reigns of the presidency in 2008 after a rigged election.

  • Americandude313

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    I would like mr. thompson to take a look at these stats before he starts making insane claims.

    "In 1996 (the most recent year for which data are available), 34,040 people died from gunfire in the United States. Of these deaths, approximately 54 percent resulted from suicide, 41 percent resulted from homicide, and 3 percent were unintentional. Gun-related homicides have declined by 33 percent since 1993, including a 35-percent drop in handgun homicides. Meanwhile, from 1992 to 1996, murder rates declined by 20 percent, aggravated assaults by 12 percent, and the overall violent crime rate by 16 percent."
    AS YOU CAN SEE Mr. Thompson is so completly wrong it is amazing.
    if you want to see the full article go to http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/gun_violence/sect01.html

  • robo426

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:50 pm PT

    Can you imagine, just walking down the street and a cop stops you, "Sir is that a gun in your pocket." "NO it's just my psp." "What game do you have?" " Grand... theft... auto...?" "SIR YOUR UNDER ARREST!!"

  • Bayleef

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:48 pm PT

    That Jack needs to shoot himself in the face.

  • Death1234567890

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:40 pm PT

    Maybe It was video games once maby even twice but lets face it, If He blamed rockstar for everything then He whould say "it's Rockstar's fault that my hand hurts because there games take along to play so I will blame everything on GTA even if it wasn't there fault...HA HA HA HA ".....he might as well say that crap and just so you know.....Being 17 and owning GTA isn't wrong nor should it be wrong to be 16(But the ESRB doesn't think so), PLUS I think some one killing someone has a bigger problem then playing Video Games because how he got the Gun at 16 is a good question(maybe Jack should check who give him the gun? just Maybe)

  • KynKoolij

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:39 pm PT

    I guess we can blame Rockstar for the easy availability of handguns and drugs too. And the lack of education on properly respecting and handling a firearm.

    Let's not forget poverty, and spouse and child abuse. Rockstar and any video game that has any type of weapon or violence whatsoever are to blame. They are why kids have no sense of morals or respect. Video games are why kids grow up without any sense of a belief system or confidence in themselves. I mean hell, before video games no one was ever tempted to just take what they want because it's easier than trying to earn it. So what if you have to shoot someone in the face or beat them to death. I guess next someone will try and say that the first family in the bible had a guy killing his own brother. Yeah... RIGHT.

    Oh yeah, and that's brilliant deductive reasoning. Who would have thought a 16 year old boy would have the most popular video game on the entire planet? Dam, he's good...

  • Shaner258

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:38 pm PT

    "nobody shoots anybody in the face unless your a hitman or a video gamer"

    or maybe your insane, a serial killer, you stupid idiot?? because I played Pikmin I'm gonna go shoot my neighbour in the face" ya right. He just implied that any gamer would do that. What an idiot

  • Technoweirdo

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:35 pm PT

    Although I'm sure every gamer here really wants to shoot this guy in the face with a desert eagle or some other firearm or knife him or even break his neck( I really do want to snap his neck), that would only prove his point. Instead, it'd be better to prove this lunatic wrong. Gamers here already mentioned other influences such as drugs, money, parents that just didn't raise their children right (luckily, I'm too young to marry). Now, all that has to be done is get some statistics which prove him wrong and instead of calling a hitman, someone should call a lawyer. Phoenix Wright anyone?

  • killjoi

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    Jack Thompson: a prime example of why no father should be allowed to nurse their newborn son. It's just plain confusing.

  • badash22

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 5:26 pm PT

    Wow, another Jack-off Thompson story, seriously, he needs to shut the hell up.

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