Domspeak Forums Discussions Off Topic & Politics Father of GA School Shooter Arrested

They charged him with murder because his son had access to a gun. The FBI had been called about the boy threatening to shoot up the school a year earlier. They visited the home. The father told him his son had access to weapons and they deer hunt together. The FBI concluded the father needed to get his child away from violent video games. The father agreed. Now, the father is being charged with murder for doing exactly what the FBI told him to do. The FBI was comfortable with the boy having access to guns.

In the same situation, I would have gotten my son into counseling and locked up the guns. The mother had just left the home. The boy complained about being bullied at school. He had all of the classic makings of a school shooter. But, to charge the father with murder when he followed the FBI's advice, I think was far too much. Any thoughts on this subject?

The murder charge may have been a bridge too far. But, you need to consider this man knew his child had issues and had threatened to "Shoot up" his school. The FBI had even showed up at his house. The guns should have been under lock and key and probably not even on the premise. The father should be held accountable in one form or another. The FBI dropped the ball on this too. It isn't the first time they have been irresponsible in handling advance warnings about a school shooter. Talk about accountability, they should have been faced serious consequences in the Parkland shooting and, now, in this one.

As more information comes out, it looks as if the kid's home life was beyond troubled. His mother took his two siblings and left. She eventually lost custody and had only supervised visitation. She had been arrested on drug charges and for vandalizing her ex husband's car. The father was said to be verbally abusive. (That accusation coming from the ex wife and her parents.) There was no reference to the FBI about his playing violent video games. The father had told the FBI he was getting his son into hunting and outdoor recreation to keep him away from video games. He did tell them about the troubled home life and his son being constantly picked on his school. He lied about keeping the guns locked up and only allowing him to use them under supervision. The FBI closed the case because they could not substantiate that the boy was the user who had posted the threat of conducting a school shooting. My question would be, did they try hard enough? All of the other signs were there.

I agree with the charge of involuntary manslaughter. The two charges of 2nd degree murder and cruelty to children (Meaning the students) I, too, believe is a stretch. I'm not an attorney but believe that 2 child endangerment charges and neglect (Of his son and by proxy) would be more fitting. If I remember from the Casey Anthony trial, endangerment resulting in death carries a heavy penalty. My concern with the charges is that situations like this is that it will lead to parents being charged with their children commit a crime even in cases that they should not be.

Has anyone found information on how well the school was secured, how the police responded and how it was that this kid was able to get an AR-15 into the school unnoticed?

Here is the CNN article that I used to base this post.

I’m not all that surprised that they charged the father but very very surprised they charged him this quickly. What kind of investigation did they do? I definitely want to know how a 14 year old got his hands on an AR15. If the father gave him access to that gun he definitely should be charged and held responsible.

The father purchased the gun as a Christmas present for the kid. Under normal circumstances, that would be legal. However, he admitted, to the FBI, that his son was "Struggling" and assured them the kid would only have access to a weapon with his supervision. I don't know how much of an investigation the FBI did or what would have been involved in proving that the comments made on line about shooting up the school were made by him. On the surface, it looks as if the FBI closed the case far too soon. But, there is very limited information out there.

I’m kind of flabbergasted. I can see a responsible gun owning parent who hunts buying a shotgun or hunting rifle for their kid who hunts but wtf buys an AR for their obviously disturbed 14 year old. And then fails to ensure that gun is locked up and only used under supervision. If this is the case then I feel the father here is just as responsible as the kid. These lives were lost because of an irresponsible parent. Crazy

It is shocking, isn't it? The father couldn't have been dealing with a full deck of cards or maybe there was a substance abuse issue going on with him as there was with his wife. Do you think the FBI maybe have dropped the ball to some degree?

From what I've heard and read, the father should be held accountable as well as the kid. Looks like the school fucked up too and not responding quickly enough to the mother contacting the school and warning them. I've only heard a little about that, but I guess we'll see how that unfolds.

From what I’ve read it sounds like a dysfunctional family situation but too bad. If you have kids you are responsible for them.

I do think the fbi dropped the ball to some degree but to what extent I can’t say. I do not know how many tips or calls they get like this but I’d guess it’s a high number. Can they be responsible for keeping tabs on everyone who they get info on? I don’t know. I’d say it depends on the number. The fbi likes to push blame and responsibility off onto local agencies that in most cases are probably understaffed and overworked. I think In alot of cases there’s prior intel that comes in on these people who end up doing these mass shootings. Someone should be keeping tabs on them but who is the question. It’s easier said than done. I don’t have an answer but it’s a serious enough issue in our society that it needs to be figured out. Jmho.

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