Undetermined “violent” video game linked to a grisly murder in Utah

Police are zeroing in on “violent” video games as a reason why they arrested a 9-year-old boy in Tooele, Utah, last month. 

Arrest warrants released by police to multiple media outlets in Utah say he allegedly used a gun and a hatchet in the course of the said killing.

His father, 32, was found unconscious and bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head, according to reports from local stations ABC 4, KSL News Radio, and KUTV. Authorities have ruled any self-inflicted injuries as the cause of death.

This, after authorities said that on the night of the alleged crime, the victim and his son “went to bed early after the boy was allegedly misbehaving,” as reported by People.

People has also reported that the 9-year-old suspect “would spend “a lot of time” on his cell phone and tablet, “consuming content, watching videos and playing video games,” according to arrest warrants they cited.

“There have been instances where the suspect has viewed videos that were deemed not age-appropriate and shared details of these videos with other children in the home, resulting in discipline,” the warrant People cited states.

Yahoo! News also reported that one game the suspect played featured similar weapons as those used in the real-life alleged crime, citing a warrant obtained by and reported on by FOX 13, ABC 4 and KUTV.

No motive was released yet by police, and Yahoo reported that the child was arrested on still-undetermined charges.

Speculation is already rife on what video game was reportedly linked to the killing, with some gaming websites such as Esports.net saying that Call of Duty was the violent video game that the child played. However, Utah authorities and local police have also not released any statement or confirmation regarding the incident.

Police investigations are underway regarding the crime.