Boy, 11, guilty of murdering girl, 8, after she refused to let him see puppies

An 11-year-old boy has been found guilty of murdering an eight-year-old girl after she and her sister refused to let him see their puppies. WATE-TV reports that judge Dennis Roach this week found the boy guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to custody in Tennessee until he turns 19. In his order, which WATE […]

An 11-year-old boy has been found guilty of murdering an eight-year-old girl after she and her sister refused to let him see their puppies.
WATE-TV reports that judge Dennis Roach this week found the boy guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to custody in Tennessee until he turns 19.
In his order, which WATE posted online, Roach said the state should use all reasonable resources to determine why the boy shot the girl, and he should be treated and rehabilitated so this never happens again.
“A child who commits first-degree murder cannot be willy-nilly turned loose into society,” Roach wrote.
The boy, who has been identified by US media, was in detention and being evaluated as to where he should be placed, said Rob Johnson, a spokesman for Tennessee’s department of children’s services. “Like any other child who comes into custody, he would need a thorough assessment and evaluation to determine the best placement,” Johnson said.
“At this time, it would likely be at an intensive treatment program at one of our private providers.”
The boy has five siblings – three brothers and two sisters – who have been placed with relatives and the state, Johnson said.