(no subject)

[lbd_nytetrayn]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147722,00.html

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Lawsuit: 'Grand Theft Auto' Led Teen to Kill
Tuesday, February 15, 2005

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A lawsuit claims the video game "Grand Theft Auto (search)" led a teenager to shoot two police officers and a dispatcher to death in 2003, mirroring violent acts depicted in the popular game.

The suit announced Tuesday seeks damages from the game's manufacturers and two stores that allegedly sold it to Devin Thompson (search), now 18.

An attorney for relatives of two of the victims said Thompson, who is charged with murder, had played the video game repeatedly.

Thompson is accused of killing the three men in June 2003 after being brought to the Fayette police station on suspicion of driving a stolen car. Thompson allegedly grabbed one of the officer's guns, shot him and the other two, then fled in a patrol car.

The suit alleges Thompson purchased "Grand Theft Auto III" at the Gamestop (search) in Jasper and "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" at the Jasper Wal-Mart when he was under 17. The games, which depict police killings and other acts of violence, are rated M, meaning they are appropriate for those 17 or older.

"What has happened in Alabama is that four companies participated in the training of Devin ... to kill three men," attorney Jack Thompson told The Tuscaloosa News, which reported the suit's filing.

Named in the suit are Wal-Mart Stores (search) and Gamestop along with Take-Two Interactive Software, the manufacturer of the games, and Sony Computer Entertainment, the maker of the PlayStation 2.

Messages left for officials of three of the companies were not immediately returned. There was no answer at the listing for Gamestop in Grapevine, Texas.

At a December hearing, authorities said Devin Thompson, when he was apprehended, told officers, "Life is a video game. You've got to die sometime."

Fuck it. I'm going on an eating binge and suing Pac-man.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Comments

[makou.livejournal.com]

You'd probably win.

[lizsama.livejournal.com]

Surely, the weight of all the worlds problems revolve around Grand Theft Auto III.


Oh, you're suing pacman? and not Namco? The poor guy has enough problems being chased by ghosts!

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

Same dif. ;P I wasn't sure everyone would recognize. Then again...

LBD "Nytetrayn"

[nova-eclipse.livejournal.com]

Y'know, as bad as that is, I can't help but wonder HOW THE FUCK DID HE STEAL THAT COP'S GUN?! Was the cop just not paying attention? Carpal tunnel, maybe? And what were his buddies doing while this went on? Y'know, if ONE guy is taking on THREE cops, you'd think one of them would nail him, especially after he stole their buddy's gun and SHOT him. Maybe the cops need to start playing the games so that they can at least match up with the people they're trying to catch.

[wolfshadow.livejournal.com]

How many donouts did THOSE cops have to eat before they died? If the kid hadn't killed them, Dunkin Donuts would have.

This is simply called a case of PARENTS SHOULD WATCH THIER CHILDREN.

[decemberism.livejournal.com]

Are you kdding? That'd just be way too easy! This is why video games were invented! So that parents didn't have to watch their kids!

[rika-blade-fal.livejournal.com]

What the hell. I've played quite a good amount of Grand Theft Auto, VC/SA especially, and I haven't even hit 18 yet. I'll be using a sex-toy to beat the corpse of an elderly woman whose car I jacked for five straight minutes on GTA, while I'm turned around having a casual conversation with someone.
And despite how lovely that mental imagery is, outside of SA causing me to jokingly use ebonics much more often, I have yet to see any side effects. I certainly don't look at old ladies when I'm out for a walk and stop to wonder "what if," while I finger the handle of my holstered vibrator.

I'm tired of hearing this scenario played over and over again. @_@ I can't help but wonder if it's actually been *proven* that video games alone have led anyone to a life of crime.