Kotaku
It seems to be the vogue lately to blame video games for every violent crime attributed to a teenager. Last week 18-year-old Sulejman Talovic went on a gun toting rampage through a Salt Lake City Mall killing five or six people (the Deseret News article I read reported both numbers) and injuring several others. When questioned about motives for the killings, Salt Lake City Police Chief, Chris Burbank, had this to say:
Although nothing will be completely ruled out in the search for a motive, some of the possibilities that have been rumored on Internet blog sites so far seem to have no merit, Burbank said. For instance, detectives as of Friday had found no evidence that violent video games may have influenced Talovic. In fact, Talovic did not even own a computer or a video-game system, Burbank said.
I am not sure which of these "internet blogs" he was referring to would start such a rumor, but I can venture a few guesses. And, in a move that will surprise none of us here, our good friend J.T. wasted no time in sending local reporters an inflammatory email titled "Salt Lake City Teen Probably Trained on Grand Theft Auto Video Game."
I am terribly saddened at this news and my heart goes out to the victims and their families. I am glad, though, to see the authorities stepping up to the plate and taking a stand against those certain individuals who just can't seem to understand that violent video games are not responsible for the entire downfall of our society.
Police, DA give further details in Trolley shooting [Deseret News]
Childhood offers clues about killer [Salt Lake Tribune]
[via GamePolitics]
