An 11-year-old boy from Wisconsin has been declared competent to stand trial as an adult after allegedly shooting his mother in the face. The tragic incident occurred when the child became enraged after his mother refused to purchase a virtual reality headset for him on Amazon. The decision to try the boy as an adult was made by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jane Carroll, following a review by two psychologists who had differing opinions on the child’s competency. Despite the defense attorney’s concerns about the boy’s ability to assist in his own defense, the judge deemed him prepared for trial.
The psychologists involved in the evaluation of the 11-year-old boy disagreed on whether he fully understood the nature of the crime and the charges against him. However, Judge Carroll determined that the boy, who was 10 years old at the time of the shooting, did not have a significant mental diagnosis and demonstrated an understanding of the proceedings. Prosecutors revealed that the child was aware that his case was being tried in adult court and understood the seriousness of the charges against him.
According to authorities, the boy confronted his mother, Quiana Mann, with a gun he had accessed from a lockbox in their Wisconsin home. Initially, he claimed the shooting was accidental and that he had only intended to scare his mother by shooting at the wall behind her. Tragically, Mann walked in front of the gun and was shot in the face. The incident was initially ruled as accidental, but a second interview with the boy revealed that he had intentionally shot his mother out of anger for waking him up early that day.
Family members of Quiana Mann raised concerns about the boy’s long-standing rage issues and frequent outbursts, prompting a second interview with the police. They also noted that he had been undergoing therapy. Just a day after his mother’s death, the boy purchased the virtual reality headset he had desired using his mother’s Amazon account. The boy’s aunt revealed that he had a history of mental health issues and had been receiving treatment for mood disorders.
The 11-year-old boy was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in January. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 5 for a preliminary hearing. In Wisconsin, children as young as 10 years old can be charged as adults for severe crimes, including intentional homicide.