Boy, 10, ‘shot mum in the face’ because she refused to buy him a VR headset

He could face up to 60 years in prison

A 10-year-old boy who was charged with shooting and killing his mother after she refused to buy him a VR headset is more preoccupied with his gadgets than the murder as he faces trial, according to his family.

The Milwaukee boy is charged as an adult with first-degree reckless homicide after shooting his mum, Quiana Mann, in the face on November 21 at their home.

The boy's aunt Rhonda Reid told WTMJ-TV on Tuesday that when she talks to him in custody, he claims not to remember the shooting and is more concerned about his laptop and gadgets being "properly packaged."

'When he calls, he's just like, 'make sure all my tablets and laptop and everything of mine is properly packaged,'' Reid said.

[caption id="attachment_372146" align="alignnone" width="810"] Rhonda Reid said when she talks to her nephew in custody, he claims not to remember the shooting and is more interested in his gadgets (TMJ4)[/caption] The boy's grandmother, Lueritha Mann, said she can't bring herself to speak to him, telling the outlet: "I hope I do one day, but right now no. He took something very precious from me." "I can't believe he did it," the grandmother said, adding that he "needs to pay for what he's done." The 10-year-old had been attending therapy for more than a year because of mood and conduct disorders. Part of his treatment plan included limiting his access to electronic devices. His aunt said he was " upset about these devices being taken away." According to prosecutors, the boy shot his mother in the face after she refused to buy him a $500 Oculus VR headset. He then used her credit cards to buy the gadget online. [caption id="attachment_372145" align="alignnone" width="1420"] Prosecutors say the boy wanted a $500 Oculus Virtual Reality Headset, and shot his mother when she refused to buy one for him (Amazon)[/caption] The boy is then said to have apologised to his grandma for killing his mum, before asking where the package was. He has been charged with charged with first-degree reckless homicide and will be tried as an adult.

Wisconsin state law dictates that children as young as 10 will be charged as adults for serious crimes, such as murder. He faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

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