Geez...there too many stupid people trying to effect video games in a negative way! Obviously these kids are idiots and they will of course use the defensive of "video games made me do it" to plea innocence.

Xcite79

thats it, i'm done. ban videogames!
these fucking retards...

decodergrizzly

@DanielC: Here's the problem. No doubt that everything we see, hear, and experience has some effect on us. That still DOES NOT excuse you from taking action. These idiots are still responsible for the damage and pain they caused. Even if they were completely normal and immediately decided to get poorly cut hairdo's and go on a crime spree as a result of playing GTA for 5 minutes, they would still be responsible.

There is no subliminal message in the games you play, and if there were that would be illegal and the company who produced it would be responsible for that action, but the overall content of the game is not responsible for you making poor choices with your life.

This type of blame shifting is at the core of what is wrong with society today. You did something foolish, stand up and say, it was my fault I made a bad choice, I will deal with the consiquences. Not, well it was this game that I played and really I was just trying to be like the game. Sorry son, but that doesn't fly. If you can't understand the difference between a game world and a real world then you need to be locked away somewhere that you cannot get access to games nor access to the real world because there is too much here that will cause you to be confused and hurt other more reasonable human beings.

I think a small island off the northern coast of Antartica would be a good place, don't forget to bring a jacket...

Seriously, personal responsibility has been slowly erroded over the last 20 years to a point where people are no longer responsible for being morbidly obese or going on crime sprees and murdering people. What good can come from this; we live in a society where we all wear grey shirts and pants and go to the same job because no creative thought is allowed and nothing changes and no new experiences are allowed and our thoughts are monitored to predict the next crime before it happens?

Sad world, that...

ankhenaten

We live in a sad world. One where it apparently no longer makes sense to hold people accountable for their own actions.

ODLdragonjoe

@Gray665: oh yeah and you know what the devil has!? Hands! And he uses them for holding things!

s0nlxaftrsh0ck

Oh really?! So GTA inspired the crime spree. Let me guess, so did Pikmin inspired the hair do?

Silverwolf

The faux hawk made them do it.

That damn GTA4, its made me compulsively go home and take a nap every few hours, get up, change clothes and watch some TV, surf the 'net then go out and get something to eat. Its the devil's work I tell you.

Gray665

Funny how these stories never mention how (before GTA4) any crime would result in waves and waves and waves of cops materializing out of thin air and coming out of the woodwork, and even if you killed every one of them, they'd keep on coming until you're eventually killed.

fuchikoma

The argument that games like GTAIV always cause violent crim is just as silly and unfounded as the claim that they never have or never will.

Dragonis

Thanks a lot for helping Jack Thompson's case, assholes.

SuperStingray

What a bunch of idiots. Mugging people and hitting cars only gets you a 1 maybe 2 star wanted level and they couldn't get away from the cops? Did they forget you can evade capture now by just hitting a button? Now they're going to have to buy all their weapons again and start the mission over. Damn kids.

LunchBox55

It's possible GTA has some relevance to the crime. After playing Viva Pinata I rounded up some animals and watched them eat each other. It was so disappointing when I realized animals were not filled with candy.

Agnostic

@Tom Clancy's Samuraidino: MTV?

fatheadwilson

I did that once, but it was more inspired by Clockwork Orange

TheNocturnalSun

I played GTA for atleast 32 hours and I never used a baseball bat.

I don't even think I saw one the whole time.

I call "WTF"

karasu is my homeboy

Obviously his hair cut wasn't inspired by anything resembling good taste.

crazyscreenwriter

I'd be more convinced if the crime was stealing a helicopter, ramming it into the statue of liberty after jumping into the water only to steal a passing speedboat using a rocket launcher.

Zenrick

Whose hair was he emulating?

Guvnah

I'm sure there was crime before GTA.

On a more serious note, WTF is with that hair cut?

Kafeen

@PsycheE:
Actually, they do influence your psyche, perspective, and overall behavior.

So do your friends. Do do your parents. So do your teachers. So do books. So does the internet.

Does Not Equal

As a Long Islander, I now see why people don't like Long Island.

notonyourradar

@MOP88: Instant add for quoting the Grand Wazoo

kidko

Wow. That kid looks like a moral upstanding douchebag. Hope he and his buddies have fun in prison.

Ignatius

@noodles90: The 14-year-old. (Kidding.)

Does Not Equal

So...who bought them the game?

noodles90

@Does Not Equal: Actually, they do influence your psyche, perspective, and overall behavior.

Although it is very unethical, I did get a WTF look from my professor when I proposed to get an abandoned baby and raise it in a pale, cylindrical room without any human contact. 99% of the time, the baby will probably die from the lack of guidance of simply not knowing how to eat. However, imagine if a normal, physically healthy baby did get past the initial stage and be endowed with the ability to function and think rationally; if it exits. I would love to observe the behavior and try to logically break it down and tie it with normal functions of everyday normal child. It would be much more discernible to see what kind of media/human effects the outcome of the said baby.

Of course, I would be way over yonder in the moral and ethical line since it would take many more infants; but it will be quite fascinating.

PsycheE

@enewtabie: Thanks, though I had to repost it because I was told I'd been logged out... yet the above was my first attempt. Kotaku/Gawker baffles me sometimes. Let's hope my second attempt doesn't show up in a minute or two.

Does Not Equal

Douchebag Kangaroo's! Why would you fuggin do that knowing damn well what the hell is going on...maaan..now we're never gonna get our God of War 3 boobie showings...::cries::

I hate these parents who doesn't keep an eye their kids. Why isn't the eye turned on them >_>; What the fuck are they doing while they're kids are on trial? Are they just sitting back going "Heh totally not me in there >_>; hehehe time to raise another baby to kill like in GTA ::procreates behind the courtroom". Honestly why aren't these assholes looking at the parents. Every time i hear these cases not once do I ever hear about the investigations of how these children were raised or what their enviorments were like.

I have noticed though that after watching the Hulk i've been getting more angry lately. What is it about that movie that's getting everyone angry?! URGH! ::punches a smurf:: DAMMIT!

s0nlxaftrsh0ck

It's funny. I thought that they'd be imitating "The Warriors" {movie} or even "The Outsiders" {book}. Is it a stretch to include "West Side Story" {musical}? Kids these days, they're so uncultured. Why wait for the newest GTA to come along when there's plenty of other, older mediums that support youth related violence.

Venom2501

They probably were inspired by GTA IV. But that's soley thier problem, not the games--it's their inspiration.

fenderfuel08

I'm gonna join in on the whole "judging a book by its cover."

Seriously, the picture alone hardly makes the kid look like a saint. I doubt that he wouldn't have committed those crimes even without the influence of GTA:IV.

Also, way to call the game "GTA" without specifying which one in the goddamn series. Whoever those punk kids are, they have no real excuses left.

Troubadour

@xMindPrintsx:
Assassin's Creed has inspired me to wait until I've beaten life in the story, and then go back and mercilessly beat homeless people and street preachers without fear of penalty.

hewkii9

@Does Not Equal:
Excellent! You beat me to it.

enewtabie

"It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree"

"We got certain admissions"

OK, so the cops "determined" this based on certain "admissions". Which means that the cops asked "So you guys ever play GTA?" which the kids answered "yes we have".....case closed.

A quick search of the other guy mentioned in the article, Jaspreet Singh, on myspace turns up this page [www.myspace.com] and clearly shows that his hunt for money was not inspired by rap music whatsoever, it must be video games.

Donutt007

The kids are just screwing it up for everyone else. Dumbasses.

HaydenTenno

@DanielC: Here's the thing. Movies, music, TV shows, video games, pencil-and-paper RPGs... none of these things actually makes people commit crimes. Mental instability, a penchant for violent behavior, and other psychological factors do.

Sure, you can model your multiple homicides after your favorite video game or death metal lyric, but in the end, you still killed people because you're crazy and antisocial.

Does Not Equal

These douches will ruin things for everybody else. You know everybody that plays GTA IV will get put in the same basket and that is BS. I wouldn't do anything that dumb and I play GTA as much as possible.

dopenuts

they didnt escape the Glowing circle in time

Dude From Dubai

Garden City? Ack, that's one town away from me!

TheCakeIsALie

Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass has inspired me to get a boat and travel the high seas looking to save a princess. . . .

xMindPrintsx

@CPT_Destroyer:

They better played pool with their cousins. Less consequences.

artistpavel

inb4 JT

monorailcat

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle arcade game has inspired me to eat pizza. . . .

xMindPrintsx

We should send out a memo to all gamers. Don't use the GTA defense! It just gives other gamers a bad name.

blackmars0

Playing Mario Brothers has inspired me to walk through parks looking for power up mushrooms. . . .

xMindPrintsx

is "We got certain admissions" special corrupt cop code for "we made it all up and blamed GTA because we don't want to admit that american society is just plain violent"?

Bob6k

I read the last line as '"we got certain emissions" from the boys'.

I go to school in Nassau county! For shame.

Cyanotic

First it was Rock-Music, then Rap, then T.V., now videogames. Is it just me or is it that preppy kids are the most robotic people on earth?

fraggenstein

A crowbar? Obviously they got inspired from Half-Life

NoBullet

Oh, shame, they got to the Pay & Spray too late...

lucasreis

... Sons of bastards, this kid is such a tool. GTAIV suck anyways

IvoryMelotron

@CPT_Destroyer: Doesn't stop him from spewing his garbage here. In which case, all of the commenters here do a great job at virtually making him feel like he's being beaten bloody by bars of soap inside pillow sheets.

Tyber_Zann

For once,I wish another game could take the blame..just once.:)

Cop:Why did you do it son? What made you kill those people?

Retard #1:It was Fable 2 sir.

Cop: What??? Not GTA4?

Retard#1: No sir,I was trying to see if the consquences of my actions would effect my life story and how I turn up.I hear it's a compelling narrative and has real time effects.

Cop: It has..(bashes kid in his faux mohawkish dork wig thing)

enewtabie

The fact that blogs completely discount the possibility of these acts being induced by GTA has become more annoying to me than the act itself.

DanielC

I wonder if they mimicked more than just violence from GTA. If they mimicked how I play, then I feel sorry for them.

You know, barreling 100 MPH toward a 16 wheeler on a motorcycle to giggle with sadistic glee at how far you fly.

I love GTA.

CPT_Destroyer

Can't really say anything when the criminals themselves say there "inspired" by the video game.

exkon

@Thorax: lol

garytek

The real crime here is that hair cut, amirite amirite?

Normally, we'd expect someone who knows nothing about games to make these wild accusations, but in this case the retarded kids said it themselves. This makes me angrier than if it were Jack Thompson saying GTA made them do it.

Pezdispenser

@Tyber_Zann: If I remembered right, Jacko's lawyer license was taken away. I'm pretty sure he at least got like 15 charges against him for being a giant talking dildo.

CPT_Destroyer

What's especially amusing is that when I clicked to read the article, there was an embedded trailer for... GTA IV. Advertising at work.

Does Not Equal

"It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree"

Right, because the Grand Theft Auto-emulated smashing a passing vehicle with a baseball bat is completely different from your much conventional smashing a passing vehicle with a baseball bat.

Looks like "Video games" are the the 21st century answer to the Twinkie Defense.

Ber'Zophus

Where's Jackie boy? Is he feeling alright?

And whatever happened to the good old days when people would use the wildest excuses for their behavior, such as 'The devil made me do it!'? Now its just whatever violent game that's out at the time. Not very creative. Blaming games is so commonplace now, its like Ipods and apple pie.

So if I ever totally snap, and decide to see if Euphoria works in real life, or hijack a helicopter to see if there really is a beating heart in the Statue of Liberty, then I'll make sure to say that Boogie Superstar did it. It will all make sense.

Tyber_Zann

The kid looks like a waste of life anyway so I find it hard to believe that GTA had any effect on him. I bet he was already doing this crap.

Sollus

Yes, normal people are not usually inspired by video games to go beat people, but these kids probably aren't "normal." I'm sure that violent video games DO inspire violence in some people, just like violent TV and violent movies do. Games are just the easier scapegoat.

Saxboy

*sigh*
/Facepalm

skelator316

Obviously, GTA had nothing to do with it because if they were emulating GTA the would not have been caught because they would have used there rocket launchers to take out the Police. Clearly, they are novices!

goincommando

I spend more meaningful time with my friends and family because of GTA. Its influences are far reaching and vast.

vanderblade

Any possible link that with a name like "Attard" he'd act like... a tard?

Oh, I just guffawed as I typed that.

Guffaw again.

SirDanF

@Katorok: gah throw a "would" in my last comment where applicable -.-..

Katorok

I bet Roman called them like a million times to go play pool or something during their spree. Fucking Roman.

CPT_Destroyer

Anyone with hair like that is trouble...

xblankx

Delinquents.

Willy105

It was the rape scene dammit!

Thorax

Man, this kind of stuff always happens when I don't happen to be listening to my scanner.

Actually, I *was* listening last night - must have just been too late.

I drive down Stewart Ave. all the time. It's a busy street where cars regularly do 50-60mph (illegally, but they do it). These idiots are lucky to be alive, especially at that time of night when there's less traffic to jam things up. People *really* speed around at that time of night, especially now with all these stupid teenagers out of school for the summer.

At least none of their victims got hurt. Hope they think their little crime spree was worth it - getting charged as adults, they're looking at some serious time for this. "First degree robbery" is a class-B felony with maximum jail time of 25 years for a first offense. More typical sentences are 3-6 years.

badasscat

Just a thought: by their rationale, the use of every weapon short of a nuclear bomb can be considered "inspired by" GTA.

My personal favourites? I love cruising through Liberty City with my crowbar and my gravity gun. *sigh*

Antiterra

Oh dear not this again... I wish they speak to normal teenagers and ask them how the game has affected them..

Katorok

Let's put things into perspective:

This case of violence in the USA vs. Any of the violence in Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Darfur, etc.

Now compare the copies of GTA IV sold in the US to, hell, let's say, ALL violent and non-violent video games sold in those countries.

The people who make violent video games their crusade need to get their fucking priorities straight.

HfAsianInvasion

Parents can lay some good fundamentals for behavior at an early age for a child. After they grow up, it's up to them to be responsible for their own actions. Imitating GTAIV? It can just as easily be imitating what's seen on the news or world's wildest police chases.

That kid may have a strange hair doo, but instead of a haircut, give him some common sense.

wolfeditor

nice haircut asshole... hes gonna be somebody's bitch at jail i guess

Silenced

These sorts of stories on Kotaku remind me of the times when ESPN covers stories like "Guy that played pro baseball for three days 20 years ago was recently found guilty of murdering his wife, child, and adorable kitten." Sure, there's a connection to the subject of the site, but it's a very stretched connection, and a connection that's been stretched merely as an excuse to cover a sensational story.

Yeah, we get it, there's someone somewhere who did something stupid, and someone somewhere is tying that stupidity in some way to video games. Let's just ignore that crap and focus on the stuff that we actually come here for: like how much more awesomer (the console I own) is than (the consoles I don't own).

Bishmon

@MOP88: I think I love you for that Zappa quote. No, wait, I definitely do.

Can any of these maroons even afford the game and the system in the first place?

ZeeBeeEss

But, hey, you know... I'm sure they're good kids and all. No way they'd have been up to these kind of shenanigans save for the rotten influence of Rockstar Games and Take Two's filth. Regular church goers, that lot.

eakolb

@Does Not Equal: I have no idea what that is.

Does Not Equal

@Green-clad Gamer Dude: "JUST

Does Not Equal

"GTA made me do it" is the new Chewbacca defense.

thefais

*sigh*

How sad, stupid ass teenagers these days (I am a teen so think twice before you teens out there bash me for that), seriously, mugging people, and carrying crow bars/bats around?

I'm getting tired of these sick human beings lately, it's just really sad.

Why god why. :(

Sentry

@chuffhoncho: I'm SURPRISED they didn't mention Half-Life instead -.-

(俗・ ) Grey Gecko

@Does Not Equal: Yeah, I though that "We got certain admissions" thing was odd too. The interrogation was probably more like "Weren't you, perhaps, emulating Serbian protagonist Niko Bellic and his questionable methods?"

"Yes, I mean no. Wait, what?"

Green-clad Gamer Dude

Look at the twat, he'd have done it eventually anyway. It's not that GTA inspires violence, it's there attitude. They play GTA because they want violence etc. it's a piece of entertainment that is used for fun but it does pamper to people who are like this. If a game can set them off then anything can, a particularly bad day, a violent movie or whatever. I do partly believe in censorship though (only when it's overly gruesome and pointless like in manhunt).

Llost

@(俗・ ) Grey Gecko: If you were to take his picture and make it into a silhouette, it would resemble a Kewpie doll.

Does Not Equal

@Daemonstar: Funny. It's like a mohawk, but he missed half the back of his head, and then towards the front, it's been pushed down. (Probably from wearing his Xbox Live Headset just before the spree).

$20 says he cuts his own hair.

RageKage

We need to place blame! *looks at crime game*
OH SHI-- Those hoodlums emulated a game that emulates crime! WTF, ban that shit!

chorx

Well, these kids obviously aren't very good at GTA. I mean they got busted by the local Cops! Thats not even two stars!

shinigamixbl

I think the kids might pull back those "admissions" of a GTA comparison when they realize they don't get dumped outside without their weapons and a few bucks after being arrested.

nihility

Jesus Christ and Buddha!! Look at that haircut! That's a crime all by itself!

(俗・ ) Grey Gecko

I'm sorry, but how much did he pay somebody to drink a bottle of hair tonic and shit that hairdo onto his head?

Daemonstar

Awesome, completely and utterly fantastic.

And the countdown to Jackie boy showing up starts... now?

Jayl3w

This is the real headline " Shitty Ass Parenting Inspires Teen Crime Spree"

Neo-Senku

Can someone tell me where to find the crowbar in GTA? It's at the car dealership in Alderney, isn't it?

chuffhoncho

"It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree" using weapons and tactics inspired by the controversial video game, said Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a Nassau police spokesman."

Ummm, 1) It was determined? 2) weapons and tactics inspired by the game? Last time I checked GTA4 emulated real world weapons and real world tactics.

darknessgp

@MOP88: That is a great quote.

DaPress

Because we've never heard of someone using a baseball bat or a crowbar before.

Ryumeka

I think you're all forgetting that before GTA, there was absolutely no youth crime.

Ever.

strobefx

Judging by this kid's picture, he was already playing with a few cards short of a full deck. Way to abdicate personal responsibility, you fucking goof.

I really hope they get the book thrown at them.

DaPress

@King Seafoam: Or the fight club.

MOP88

Ah shit this is the last thing we need to hear. Why is the game being blamed than the crooks? >:(

goldwings

To quote Zappa:
"What do you make of a society that is so primitive that it clings to the belief that certain words in its language are so powerful that they could corrupt you the moment you hear them?"
Apply to videogames. Rinse. Repeat.

MOP88

If anything I think that kid was more inspired by Taxi Driver. :)

King Seafoam

"We got certain admissions" comes off as though the authorities asked the kids, "What made you do this? Could it have been violent video games like best-selling console blockbuster Grand Theft Auto IV? Were you, perhaps, emulating Serbian protagonist Niko Bellic and his questionable methods? Come on, tell us your reasons."

Does Not Equal

Did you see that photo? That goddamn Gerry Block and his hoodlum friends causing trouble again. The bosses at IGN are going to be pissed.

wild homes has particularly attractive fries today

The bigger question is what inspired him to get that haircut....

Tom Clancy's Samuraidino

That's the most depressing part; the outcry is so loud even the perpetrators see the game for what it is: an easy scapegoat.

Chagrin

'EEEEEEEEEEEEEY COUSEEEN. WANT TO GO AND SEE BEEG AMEREECAN TEETEES?

StopTheOncoming

I'd blame the drugs they probably took.

mfwahwah

Way to go idiots!

SAGA

Now THAT'S edutainment!

chuffhoncho

Oh man you think Jack got wind of this?

Majpain007

@Does Not Equal:Uhh..exactly my point?.

PsycheE

@s0nlxaftrsh0ck: Indeed the beginning of the end was the television. Society found it preferable to waste their time in front of a box being decidedly unproductive. I say, at least games stimulate my brain more meaningfully than just watching television. But certain I have wasted my share of life in front of a screen.

And I'll say this; I fell into the trap of blaming a video game for poor choices. But it was not until I came to the realization that blaming something else for the poor choices I was making did I actually find the personal strength to begin to dig myself out of the hole I had created. Personal responsibility is not only a moral and ethical imperative for society, it is liberating and strengthening for an individual.

I still enjoy playing games, but I also enjoy being a productive member of society. I hope to contribute to the betterment of society in a meaningful way before my time is through.

ankhenaten

The problem with their GTA session is that you can't turn it off, head to the bar and have the chance to get laid. It's over you're going to prison where the real criminals and gangsters are. You can't unplug what's your cell mate may turn to put IN you. :(

Kerrell

Oh well, I guess that is 6 less idiots who will be playing online tonight!

Speedbag

"Late breaking news! Plumber brothers go on turtle stomping rampage while on mushrooms" Give me a break...

static

@ankhenaten: Ah the shackles of entertainment. So much could be done if we got up and stopped watching TV. I could probably be an excellent programmer/guitarist by now with my time wasted on the net/games/and tv =/...::le sigh::

s0nlxaftrsh0ck

Now let's not knee-jerk this. To be fair, it's perfectly reasonable to think they could have been hanging out before the crime spree, playing GTA and saying to each other, "Dude, we should totally go do this sh*t in real life, yo!"

Obviously, the game didn't really make them do it, but you can't deny that it's a bad example of what people ought to do in real life. It's just that they had to be a little bonkers in the first place to consider such behavior as a viable option.

And so we come back to personal and parental responsibility... There are plenty of examples of how not to behave out there. It's up to each person (and their parents if they are impressionable youths) to decide what is and is not acceptable behavior to emulate (and fill your head with). Maybe we just need to make a habit of having "the GTA talk" with our kids.

"Son, you'll see a lot of things in this game, such as beating hookers with a baseball bat and then running them over with your car. Just so you know, you shouldn't do these things in real life. In real life, you will be shot and killed, or emprisoned and raped."
"Thanks, Dad. Now I know."
"And knowing is half the battle, son."
*Jingle plays*

Comatose Turtle

'Tactics?' Oh yes indeed this game features heavily on 'tactics' Sgt Repalone. And the skills it can teach you! After just 2 weeks of play my Krav Maga skills were enviable to say the least, and my kid brother was pulling moves in the MG like you wouldn't believe. And hes never driven a car!! Theres no doubt in my mind that GTA can teach you the skills you need to survive in todays unforgiving world.

Major0celot

That haircut is definitely a sign of a troubled young man. And it ain't GTAs fault. Must be that Rock and/or roll music these whippersnappers listen to all day.

Angryrider

He looks more like from Crazy Taxi games instead of Grand Theft Autos..... am I right?

Dogswithguns

This is actually quite true. Back when I was a kid, we'd get done playing a mean session of E.T. on the Atari so we'd tear through the neighborhood, extending our necks and picking up little indistinguishable pieces of junk that may or may not be used to construct an interstellar communications device, then we'd run from some guys in suits, visit some ruins and just go buck wild. This case is JUST LIKE THAT.

Hectorvex

@Solidsky: Do teens really go around "emulating" ?

You're kidding, right? That's pretty much all they do.

@Sniper_Zegai: Try reading the article. For one thing, nobody's "blaming" GTA4 - they're blaming the kids for emulating GTA4. If you'll notice, it was the kids that got arrested, not the game.

For another thing, it was the cops that said it, not the media. The media is only quoting the cops. And the cops say they got it from the kids themselves.

So blame the kids, it's all on them. The crime, the "emulating", everything.

There's also this ridiculous cultural idea around here that stuff like this is sort of a rite of passage for young guys. Long Island parents really are the absolute worst. Never bring up your kids around here.

badasscat

Oh sensationalist media, is there nothing you can't blame Grand Theft Auto 4.

Sniper_Zegai

Do teens really go around "emulating" ? I mean was it like when you're a lil kid and you're jumping around doing finger gestures like you're a super hero?

Do they go around saying "look at me, i'm the guy from GTA!" and bash cars?

I think there's more to just video games that twisted these kids around. Again I feel parents need to step up their skills and do what they need to do, instead of pointing fingers at everyone.

If these teenagers are troubled, it can be anything to trigger violence and misbehavior in them....

A lot of media will affect teens and they will surely affect a teenager negatively who wasn't brought up properly.

Solidsky

it's so easy to blame this kind of stuff on a game that looks like the crime. if they're blaming grand theft auto, why not blame Saint's Row? it's basically the same game. this whole videogame relation is ridiculous. people are blaming the easiest thing to blame, aka videogames, when they should be blaming the kid or the kid's parents.

soldier148

Since when did GTA have crowbars?! They've never played GTA.. Blasphemers!

jurb

@PsycheE: Sorry, it seemed as though you were defending the point that video games can drive people to leave their homes and commit premeditated violence, which I believed was so much bullshit.

Does Not Equal

I've never seen anyone go on a cooking spree after playing cooking mama

Orionsaint

I cannot believe how stupid people can be. What happens in the game stays in the game. Also I live about 10 minutes away from where all of this happened so I am probably even more pissed at this than most of you guys.

ShearDude

i gotta ask though, lets say they were emulating GTAIV, like running around dressed like Niko, Roman, Jakub, etc. what would happen? i mean they still committed the crimes right? or would it really reduce their sentence that much?

pandafresh

It is plain silly sadly somewhere JT is laughing it up. Or we could start conspiracy theories he paid the kids off.

I agree that games like any other media can effect a person. But this blatant blame game has to stop. See a person is a accumulation of the parts of their experiences. I think PsycheE made a good point of the hypothetical situation to see what really influenced a person, though arguably the absence of influence is also detrimental as we are a social creature. So yeah if a person choose or was placed on a pretty grim path I could see a game as a part effecting them. But we have logics we have developed to what is right and wrong and what is fact and what is fiction. And I would think it would either take a lot of other experiences or lack of, or mental issues to cause such acts. This is not to say I think people with bad experiences are not to blame cause I have friends that have overcome some pretty bad stuff growing up that could easily have choose a bad path but choose the complete opposite. I firmly believe a greater fault in issues like these lay with the parents as they are ones that are supposed to teach there kids right from wrong though there are some rare cases this is not the case. But at the end of the day regardless of the reason or cause we are responsible for our actions.

Konchu

What was the name of his crime spree? "Three Leaf Clover"?

Americo

That picture just makes me want to punch him in the face.

I'll blame it on GTA afterwards.

goddessakasha

NEWSFLASH: Dumbass kids easily influenced by depictions of violence and antisocial behavior. Parents unavailable for comment.

Arklop

I hope GTA didn't inspire him to get that haircut. But hair aside, these guys are blockheads and I hope someone throws the book at them in court.

KM91

@MOP88: dont talk about fight club lol

kjcwashere

GAH Fucking Morons and their Cover ups. Seriously why do they blame video games and do admit to their mistakes. You know what I feel like running fast going to jewerly stores to collect rings and emeralds.

shrek187

Fox News cast rejoice, pick pitchforks and start to march against gaming once more.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

Fucking lame finger pointing!

EnigmaNemesis

The only GTA related rape scene he is going to see is the one in his jail cell with a haircut like that.

He is going to get a human booster shot by a guy named molly or worst some guy named Nasty Nate. "I alway get my cocktail..............................FRUIT!!!!!" LOL

MURDERFACE

Seriously. If you're going to go on a "GTA-Spree," you're going to have to do a lot better than just mugging someone and breaking a car window.

psychobaka

wonder who inspired his haircut

devilhunterx

""It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree" using weapons and tactics inspired by the controversial video game, said Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a Nassau police spokesman."

But GTA is a satirical take on society...

Replica23

Hey! I work in Garden City ... I'm sure if I would have seen these dumb bastards I would have ran them over. "GTA mutha fucker!!!" But then again ... I've seen worse things happen in G.C :)

EsCO823

@MOP88:

That is an awesome quote.

man_in_gauze

So yesterday... My friend and I spent a full 8 hours driving around, blowing shit up, and murdering dozens upon dozens of innocent people in GTAIV. And I'll bet you that through the next few weeks... We probably won't be emulating ANY of it.

Well except for picking up hookers. That is a distinct possibility. But isn't it for all of us?

2NinjasTapedTogether

hey thats funny, i live in that county, about 5-10 minutes away from that town to.

to bad i didnt go out that night, cause if i saw those kids i wouldve went ninja gaiden on their ass with a katana...oh well. maybe next time.

boshans

I am so sick of GTA being used as the scapegoat for teens being morons. I played GTA when I was a teen and didn't decide to go apesh*t and shoot up the town. It's called being responsible and not an idiot. There are kids like these six who went to school with me and what it is is plain boredom and idiocy. "How can we make ourselves look "badass?" Go and be vandals, woo hoo. *Rolling of the eyes*

Kimbeegrin

The kids were just stupid idiots.

Why was it determined that they were emulating the guy in GTA and not some guy in a movie? OMG, or why not emulate the criminals that the news reported? :O

Naia

How old is that fucking kid? At some point the "I didn't know better than to emulate blah blah character" defense should get thrown out by default if you're over the age of you know...12...that guy looks anywhere from 15-20.

TheHeartless

I'm going to keep this simple. GTA isn't the problem, the kids were going to do something stupid regardless of the game and just would have based their actions off of something else if they didn't have GTA. GTA is a coincidence, not a cause.

Ryodestined

Is his haircut intended to look like someone poo'd on his forehead?

DugDawg

MISSION FAILED.

xCruciaLx

LOL FAIL!

MellowJade

Hey, it's Goku from the new movie!

YECH. Could you jerk-offs be inspired to, I don't know, read a book? Graduate from high school? I hate these fuckers. Did Super Mario inspire anyone to take shrooms or set themselves on fire? FUCK!

YotaruVegeta

Looks like that hair was inspired by the Dragonball Z movie.

man_in_gauze

hey that i love the comment but\but it not right for me an i want to say that i hate my space .com so plaese help me out on mys thankyou.................................

mercades

I wonder if that started outside the supermarket I used to work at. Right next to Garden City.

Probably punk kids from West Hempstead. *Shakes fist*

savemeaquaman

I think we should go back to blaming rock music. I mean the kid is wearing a Red Hot Chili Peppers shirt...haha.

NuclearSun

his mohawk sucks... Usually people with them make me miss mine but this guy just makes me want to smack him for more than his stupidity.

That Girl Hates You

way to go dumb fucks, ruin GTA 4 for the rest of us. I swear to god if assholes like this who have nothing better to do than go around pulling stupid shit and blaming videogames for their actions get GTA or other video games pulled from the market I will find out where they are and give them the ass beating that their parents should have given them years ago. And im not saying little slap on the ass with my hand, no im gonna take my belt off and give them a whipping that makes them bleed.

cpuwizard9225

@darknessgp: The game is inspired by real-world weapons and tactics? Haven't you heard that man is actually inspired by Grand Theft Auto?

"And on the first day, God created GTA, and he so enjoyed its mayhem that he created man in its image."

Doomaflatchi

They should have just gone to the web site www.littlelacysurprisepageant.com that way they'd have 4 stars and be killed as soon as they went outside. Would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. :)

cholinms

Driving by a small herd of cows yesterday I felt a desperate urge for a burger.

Does that make me some kind of maniac ?

Aeryss

1. emulate gta
2. get caught
3.
4. Profit!!!!!!

Termina

Where were the parents of these children? Were they at home shooting up "plasmids", because they were influenced by Bioshock? I guess personal responsiblity doesn't exist any more.

Club80

@wild homes has particularly attractive fries today: lol

ViciousViper

Here we go again, lawyers blaming everyone and everything except the the criminals for their actions.

ViciousViper

nice job, dumb fucks

lil_thugz911

rofl weapons and tactics: "Duurhhh, GTA done teached me how to do swinging of wood club *drool*"

And the haircut and mug shot reeks of him not growing up in a stable home, which might be a bit more important than what stoner dickwad here was playing that afternoon

sock89