GTA blamed in court case...again

Lawyers claim Grand Theft Auto led Cody Posey to kill his father, stepmother, stepsister in 2004; Sony, Take-Two, Rockstar named in suit.

Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto franchise is once again the target of lawyers in a high-profile murder case. Attorneys in the trial of convicted killer Cody Posey have named Sony Computer Entertainment America, Take-Two Interactive, and Rockstar as responsible for a triple homicide that took place in New Mexico in 2004, according to news outlets in the state.

The court found Posey, then 14 years old, guilty of murdering his father, stepmother, and stepsister with a gun. Posey allegedly snapped after years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of his father. A judge convicted him of first-degree murder in February.

Lawyers today said Posey would not have committed the murders if he hadn't played the "murder-simulation device" Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Circling the courthouse is Miami attorney and antigame crusader Jack Thompson, who has descended upon New Mexico and is aiding the lawyers in the suit.

503 Comments

  • Terry_Foxman

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 9:48 am PT

    Let me get this straight: he was abused by his father, finally retaliates and GTA is blamed!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Im sorry as bad as the anti-game suits are this sets a whole new bar. So a kid kills his family because he was abused and happened to play a video game, can i ask if he ever read a history book? turned on a TV? or been subjected to violent behavior (oh wait...)?

    This is ridiculous and makes me ashamed to be an American, grow up and get a life

  • Ginga-Lightnin

    Posted Dec 23, 2006 1:57 am PT

    WTMcF! How the hell can you blame a game for years of abuse by your parents!? Just because you play GTA it doesn't mean your going to flip out and go rambo in the street. GTA is a GAME. In other words it isn't real. If some people are so stupid that they let a game decide whether they kill someone or not, then jesus, they should've been locked up a long time ago!

  • 85072

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 7:16 pm PT

    "Lawyers today said Posey would not have committed the murders if he hadn't played the "murder-simulation device" Grand Theft Auto: Vice City."

    WTF! Murder-simulation device! the kid would not have commited the murders if his dad did not abuse him and if they paid attention to the rating.

  • nothgate4

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 2:12 pm PT

    The game is not to blame. The kid and the parents where to blame, not the game.

    First up, the 14 year old kid had a gun. What the heck? Also, his parents had abused him, and he would have wanted revenge. Kid + Gun + Mean Parents = A bloody end

    Also, how the heck do you blame a game? Someone, tell me. I used to play Gta Vice City when I was 7, and I didn't go deranged and kill people. I had a brain...

  • crippo_gamer

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 9:43 am PT

    God some people need to be able to tell the difference between a 'Virtual Life' and 'Real Life'. If is father abused him then I can't blame him for getting revenge on him. But when it comes to murdering the rest of the family thats uncalled for (really killing his father is uncalled for 2 but thats what ends up happening when you mess around with your son like that). Sure I play the GTA titles and you don't find me blasting at my family! GOOD NIGHT!

  • MaDsOuLgAmEr22

    Posted Dec 5, 2006 11:40 am PT

    that is so bs... lawyers find everyway to keep creminals on the streets and money on their pocket if the kid did what he did it was for other reason not just because of a stupid game plus thats the fathers fault of buying it for a 14 years old when on the game box it says for 17+ (no offense to minor,just making a point) .....(Posey allegedly snapped after years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of his father) father abused him ......mhmmm i guess thats a pretty good reason to kill the bastard ....now the rest of the family rest in peace.

  • ChucklesMginty

    Posted Nov 22, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    *sigh* this is getting old now. Child plays GTA Loves it, takes it too seriously, commits crime, goes to court, scumbag lawyer tries to sue game developers, loses case, parents shouldn't have let homicidal child play M rated game. When will people learn.

  • iaag784

    Posted Oct 20, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    :
    Posey allegedly snapped after years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of his father


    Yeah.....maybe this had something to do with it? Jack's an ***.

  • R3V3RS3D

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 4:07 pm PT

    iamdaman13 - you're totally right, bro!! The only problem is that if we brutally and sadistically murder Jack Thompson with rusty knives, broken pieces of glass and a welders torch ... he'll win!

    According to him, only Hitmen and Gamer's shoot people in the head. If we blow his brains out we'll prove him right. Maybe a hungry wolverine or mountain lion can eat him. Hmmm...

  • iamdaman13

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 12:08 am PT

    Jack Thompson needs to have his brains blown out. He's such a stupid ****head who wants to sue everyone for everything possible. Please, someone, do us all a favor and rid us of this stupid, low-life, worthless being.

    Oh, and by the way, it's not Rockstar's fault that some stupid parents let their 14 year old son play a Mature rated game. And it's also not Rockstar's fault thatthe 14 year old is a homicidal maniac. I honestly hope he gets the chair, and stupid politians need to leave Rockstar alone and stop molesting little children.

  • noneed04

    Posted Oct 6, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    what just b/c someone does not know the difference between the real world and the game should not be allowed to play it. i have played this game for the longest time, but i have never thought of doing some of the things that i can do in the game. if the game is teaching us to kill then it is also teaching us to go the ammo depot and steal a tank. go on a rampage destroy many thing.

  • markshell

    Posted Oct 3, 2006 8:48 pm PT

    nappan wrote:

    "markshell: So, they'll start blaming US for bombing Iraq because the soldiers listened to Ozzy Osbourne? Or maybe blame Michael Jackson for rapists all over the world? Maybe WW happened because they were tired of playing chess. "

    Please, you're actually hurting our case man. Those are some of the weirdest and least relevant analogies and fantasies I've ever SEEN. I think a really good guide for these forums would be "if you lack the mental or linguistic ability to make your point, either keep your points very simple, or don't post." Just a thought."

    ----------------------------------

    Well, my point WAS to make an absurd analogy. Just to say "hey, that's ****. Something doesn't have anything to do with the other." like the way I see this news. Yeah, to me it's THAT insane. Well, I'm cool if you didn't get it, but be nicer before you post a response like that without realizing the purpose of the post. It wasn't that hard to figure it out.

    Everybody has the freedom to express themselves the way the want to, I didn't want to be direct in my point because that's the way I like it. It's up to the one who reads to interpret what I'm saying. If you lack the ability to understand a subjective text, it's your problem, don't bash other people for it.

  • insanewolfninja

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 8:09 am PT

    I am getting pissid the kid didint do it cause of the game it's cause his dad mentally and phsically absused.

  • TavLok

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 7:32 am PT

    "Attorneys in the trial of convicted killer Cody Posey have named Sony Computer Entertainment America, Take-Two Interactive, and Rockstar as responsible for a triple homicide"

    My fellow gamers, we have truly entered a new level of stupidity in our society. You can inhale Big Macs and sue McDonalds who never forced you to come through their doors for getting fat.

    Violents drug smugglers can cut deals with DAs to negotiate their release and charge border patrol agents with human rights violations. And AG Gonzalez sees nothing wrong with it.

    And now......... a console manufacturer, a game publisher and the developing studio of a video game can be "named responsible" when someone commits triple homicide.

  • LuminosityBlaze

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 7:33 pm PT

    Not really too weird, they make sense to me... But this is absolutely ridiculous. Games, movies, and music can stop being blamed for society's problems ANYtime now!...

  • nappan

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 4:38 pm PT

    "markshell
    So, they'll start blaming US for bombing Iraq because the soldiers listened to Ozzy Osbourne? Or maybe blame Michael Jackson for rapists all over the world? Maybe WW happened because they were tired of playing chess. "

    Please, you're actually hurting our case man. Those are some of the weirdest and least relevant analogies and fantasies I've ever SEEN. I think a really good guide for these forums would be "if you lack the mental or linguistic ability to make your point, either keep your points very simple, or don't post." Just a thought.

  • markshell

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 8:41 pm PT

    So, they'll start blaming US for bombing Iraq because the soldiers listened to Ozzy Osbourne? Or maybe blame Michael Jackson for rapists all over the world? Maybe WW happened because they were tired of playing chess.

  • GTAFreak182

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 7:07 pm PT

    I play GTA and i don't go around killing people because im not a psycho

  • gameerkid

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 4:17 pm PT

    DOWN WITH ANTI-GAMERS

  • nappan

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 1:13 pm PT

    "Posey allegedly snapped after years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of his father. "

    Yeah, it was definitely the video game. *snoooore* This is meaningless, since this case doesn't have a chance. Even if some idiot jury finds for the plaintiff, it will be crushed in an appellate court. This is only newsworthy in that the judge didn't find the plaintiff had no cause of action. Really, this is not so unusual. You always sue the people with the deep pockets, and in this case it's Take Two. They are probably percieved as vulnerable, and therefore the plaintiffs think they can make an easy buck. Prepare to be dissapointed.

  • ludacriss

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 3:32 am PT

    Games are not the problem !!! People are responsible for their actions. Not games. For Gods sake. A lot of people play gta. They blame rockstar because an idiot can't control himself.

  • extremedogs003

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 9:20 pm PT

    That's the problem with human kind they do not want to be responsible for their own action when they committed a crime they always looking for an excuse or something to be blamed for thier act stupid

  • BigGhostrider12

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 5:04 pm PT

    how do they know he is like that because he played a game?

  • GrandMasterLuis

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 4:22 pm PT

    lordtaron: You can't sue a lawyer for being retarded. It's his job.

    Konviction: That damn GTA and all those hos. Let's go back to the Italian trippin' on shrooms.

    Carmen_Ghia: You're right. I've been playing violent games since I was really little. I played Goldeneye since the day it came out, it was one of my favorite N64 titles. I got Conker's Bad Fur Day in 2001, when I was 10-years-old... it's been my favourite game ever since. I even bought the remake for the Xbox.

    Now, to say that it's the gamemakers fault he learned to kill, might be right. Sure, if you wanna learn to do long division, don't you read a math book? If you want to learn how to combine molecules, don't you look at a diagram? If you need to learn how to perform a proper pull-up, don't you watch someone do it for you?

    Sure. But to say that's the reason he killed his parents is ludicrous. However, that's not what the original lawsuit is about, nor is it what the new one is about.

    If Grand Theft Auto taught him how to kill with a gun, I can blame me knowing how to strangle someone on Gerber or the people who make baby formula, because I used to hold my own bottle when I was a baby. I can blame me knowing how to tie a noose on TV shows of rodeo events.

    To claim that knowledge is the reason something occured, is absurd. This kid would have killed these people anyway.

    And besides, I hate my dad, too. I know everyone hates someone. It's just, some people crack sooner than others, and this isn't based on the things they voluntarily take part in (playing video-games). This is based on things that are done onto them (physical abuse and mental molestation).

  • Carmen_Ghia

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 5:26 pm PT

    People keep saying that the parents are to blame because they got him a a game that he was too young to buy himself, but really they are to blame because they beat and molested him. If it is true that he became violent because of video games then there is something seriously wrong with him because I have played M rated games ever since i was only 12 or 13, and my parents knew I was mature enough to not take it seriously. Never until I heard about all these stupid law suits against video games have a I ever considered the concept of comparing real life killing to killing in a game.

  • Konviction

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 10:32 pm PT

    GTA...What happened to the "good ol' days" when eating magic mushrooms doubled your height?

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 7:16 pm PT


    Take-Two isn't the problem

  • lordtaron

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 6:47 pm PT

    Soo...let me get this straight. The parents abused the kid so much that he snapped and murdered them.

    Grand Theft Auto is to blame for it?

    Huh...I'll have to remember that one.

    Anyone want to start a campaign against Jack-a** Thompson for wasting the countries money on frivilous lawsuits? If you can sue a game company for violent games causing an abused child to kill his parents, you can sue a lawyer for being retarded.

  • StanAce

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 5:56 pm PT

    Someone needs to dig a hole for Jack Thompson. Maybe he'll get done in by some "video-game addict" someday.

    People really need to stop blaming video games for their own problems these days. The evidence was all there, the kid was being abused and for whatever stupid reason, he owned a gun. He didn't kill his stepfather because he played a "murder-simulator". He killed him because his stepfather's actions led the child to harbor a deep hatred for him. When will "opportunists" like Jack Thompson realize the problem isn't in video games, but in parenting? But then again, what parent likes to be responsible for their own faults?

    The screwed up society we live in today.

  • aerosmith549

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    this is so retarded its not even funny. even if he is 14, its the parants fault, not the games!

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 3:47 pm PT

    Not another court case for Grand Theft Auto. It's now a "murder simulator"?

  • SoraTheExtreme

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 3:18 pm PT

    He was 14 and played GTA (WTF)
    He was 14 and owned a gun (WTF)
    He had lived for some years being abused by a very bad parent...

    I'd say the parents had it coming, the kid was obviously not allright in the head and then he got his hands on a gun and wanted revenge... it has nothing to do with the game...
    and why is Jack Thompson allways only going after GTA? there are games with more MORE gore and things... emotionelly Silent Hill should be a goal for that guy... but if he does anything to this godsent game from Konami!! *shakes fist at*

  • thomass60r

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 3:11 pm PT

    i think this is silly gta getting blamed for a kid killing ???
    i mean he controls his actions and even though he cracked its not the games fault.

  • SolarisDeschain

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    This angers me. A lot. If he snapped because of years of abuse from his stepfather, it wouldn't matter if he had or hadn't played the game.

    This is tragic, yes. The kids need to be punished, yes. He may not have been mature enough to have played the game, yes. But that doesn't mean he studied the ins and outs of murder on a video game. At all.

    But of course, thsi has to be turned into a stupid circus, and an attempt at an easy case for the attorneys, probably the prosecuting.

    And of course Mr. Thompson has to turn this into another petty attempt to turn the first amendment, something he obviously has a problem with, since it doesn't adhere to strict conservative christian values (and I'm not disrespecting Christians or Conservatives, but you get my idea). He tried the same with pornography and it didn't work, and if it doesn't work with videogames, he'll jump to another form of expression.

  • ControllerLord

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    I agree Carmen. Here's my suggestion: not only should age be a factor in whether or not you can buy a game, but also how dumb your parents are. My parents paid attention to what I played. That's why my mom threw my copy of Perfect Dark in the garbage not long after I got it.

  • Carmen_Ghia

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    I've always said when a kid goes out killing people and saying it's because of video games, then there's nothing wrong with the games, there is something wrong with the kid. In this case it's the parent's fault since they appearently abused him and I think I heard he was also molested. All of these charges against game companies are bogus. There are so many other organizations and people that need to be taken down instead of the game industries.

  • _AbBaNdOn

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 10:59 am PT

    If i were sony or take-two i would hire a clown as my lawyer w/ blow up baloons and everything.

  • ControllerLord

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 9:36 am PT

    I like the fact that they used the term "murder-simulation device" for the first time yesterday. To me, that seems like Jack Thompson does daily internet searches for acts of violence and video game titles until he finds one. I mean c'mon Jack. Did he read about his step-parents, or did he just read that the kid played Grand Theft Auto and jumped on the first plane to New Mexico to talk to the Lawyers? "Hey guys, do you hate how your kids play video games. Well you have a chance to stop by blaiming the murder on Take Two."

    And they were obviously bad parents. They were abusive and they bought the kid GRAND THEFT FREAKIN' AUTO.
    Wake up people.

  • jay005

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 9:22 am PT

    Once again Jack Thompson, the Anti-super hero of the new gaming age comes swooping down from the skies to save another person from disbelieve that he did nothing wrong, and puts sole blame on the gaming world again. But, JT is still over looking those main facts, that the boy had problems with is step-pop's and maybe even is mother also, for the fact of her just looking over the situation when he is clearly crying for help. Pressure from that boys family made him snap, the old "don't say nothing routine" just didn't work this time. An old saying goes "Nobody can here your inside cry out, just the expression on your face tells the story". It's a shame that when one person does something wrong, the whole gaming community gets blamed. Then again, JT is still waiting for that "I told you so" kind of thing. It's getting old, boring and labeled "the same ass 2-step".

  • caneco87

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 9:20 am PT

    OMFG!@#$% Why don't they try to sue mcdonald's for making them fat or something else; the have to stop F#ck1ng with videogames

  • rarson

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 8:55 am PT

    "Too bad they're too dumb and ignore 1st Amendment completely... apparently they are so caught up in getting tons of money that they look right past our own justice system. Funny isn't it?"

    No, it's not funny when people ignore our basic rights, especially when our government creates things like "free speech zones."

    Wait a second, I thought the WHOLE COUNTRY was a free speech zone!

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 8:42 am PT

    You can't legislate sociopaths out of the population, they just occur every once in awhile like a tornado or an earthquake. All you can do is look for the warning signs and try to get out of the way.

  • Sorensenator

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 8:30 am PT

    It always amazes me reading these new court cases against GTA. Whenever a crime is similar to what you can do in the game, prosecutors jump right on it and blame the game simply because they know if they win, they could obtain HUGE amounts of money. Too bad they're too dumb and ignore 1st Amendment completely... apparently they are so caught up in getting tons of money that they look right past our own justice system. Funny isn't it? Cody Posey is just a nut bag. Every murder from the history of mankind has been because of people's inability to function in a normal society because of a mental problem but now in modern day we have somethign to blame it on, GTA and I'm sure it'll be a matter of time before Saints Row starts taking a hit too. Haha this is so stupid.

  • Redertainment

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 7:50 am PT

    Yeah, Grand Theft Auto is to blame for this violent outburst. There is no way that it could've been a reaction to the years of abuse, because as we all know, video games are the source of all violence in the world! I mean before GTA came out, the world was a beautiful, euphoric place, with no conflict, resentment, or bad things of any sort!

    Seriously, Jack Thompson should be able to see the real motive behind this tragic incident, and steer clear of it. That, of course, assumes that he isn't a leech, latching on to and video game realted incident, just to get more and more publicity. I hope that this case is thrown out of court, and Jack is left with a whole carton of egg on his face.

  • herbie12282

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 4:43 am PT

    right, it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that his stepfather was a total piece of crap. i'm not going to debate the fact that this kid was probably screwed in the head, but games don't make people murderers. I haven't played a game yet that makes me want to kill, but i've met people who have made me want to.

  • Ben-e

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 4:23 am PT

    Legally doesn't the resposibility lie with the person who gave him a copy of the game? As he's underage, he shouldn't have been able to buy it in a shop himself...

  • allgamesfanman

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 4:12 am PT

    Jack Thompson. I'm ashamed to share half of his first name. Man, the poor kid, Posey killed them because he lost his patience. The proverb "Even the worm turns" rings very true in this case. In my opinion, the boy would kill them eventually even without GTA. The game is definitely not likey to be responsible. You wanna blame something, Jack? Blame the media and the world. The solution is not eradicating games, rather it should be eradicating the real causes of such incidences. Correct gamers?

  • amogley

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 4:08 am PT

    Stepping aside from what is obviously a very sad and tragic incident [shouldn't more time be devoted to making sure this doesn't happen again - instead of campaigning against the game industry?]

    Why isn't Thompson campaigning against the gun manufacturers ... I would say that they are more liable than the games companies ... you've never heard of anyone committing murder with a game ... but with guns??? Hmm.

    What about Cars ... let's go after the automobile industry everytime someone is injured or killed by a car!

    The only reason JT won't go after the Gun legislation is that he knows that he hasn't a snowballs chance of getting anywhere. Same with the auto industry.

    And "Murder-Simulation device" ... for pitys sake

    I hope the americans tax dollars are not paying for these kinds of farces.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 3:22 am PT

    Damn! people are so stupid.......

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