16-Year-Old Admits Killing Parents for Taking Away iPad

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." 2 Tim. 3:1-2. We are certainly living in the "last days" spoken of by the Scriptures. These days are called perilous or dangerous because Jesus is about to come and the condition of this world is deteriorating. We need to be careful on what we allow our kids minds to be absorbed with. And we must teach them the ways of God. -Advent Messenger Commentary

International Business Times | June 2, 2014

Young people being addicted to devices is a consequence of the technology age as the mobile phone, iPad, laptop or iPod became part of the growing up experience of the millennials.

However, for some of them thought of being separated from their gadgets could result in anxiety, depression or even manic behaviour which could escalate into fatal decisions in extreme cases. One such extreme case was that of a 16-year-old Virginia resident who admitted last week in a court hearing of killing his parents for taking his iPad away.

On Wednesday, Vincent Parker admitted at a Virginia court that he killed his mum and dad. On Dec 19, 2013, he sneaked out of Norview High School and went home to douse his 57-year-old mother Carol on with pepper spray, stabbed her in the eye and beat her with a baseball bat and crowbar 25 times. He hit her in the neck, face and head until she stopped breathing.

Afterwards, he used the same weapons to kill his father, 55-year-old Wayne. However, despite his wounds, Wayne was able to call the police and named Vincent as their attacker. He later died from injuries in hospital.

Vincent told police, quoted by Huffington Post, "I just remember getting mad. It's all from my dad. All this stuff like my dad taking away my iPod and stuff."

Vincent is not the typical juvenile delinquent since he is an honor student at Norfolk, Virginia. He was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.

DNA on the different weapons confirmed Vincent handled the crowbar, baseball bat and knives.

Despite the tragedy, his grandfather, Allen Taylor, has forgiven the teen and said Vincent, slated for sentencing on Sept 18 since he was tried as an adult, is sane and smart.

A psychiatric evaluation confirmed that Vincent is sane and intelligent, according to defence lawyer Emily Munn who said she would ask the judge to let the teen serve his sentence partly in a juvenile facility.

Taylor, the father of Carol, said, quoted by News.com.au, "I want him to get some counseling. Help him to grow up and be an understanding man. Be sorry for what he did do. I told him to ask God to forgive him for what he did."

The grandpa added he forgave Vincent "Because if I don't forgive him, who will?"

Source: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/554379/20140602/16-year-old-virginia-man-admits-killing.htm#.U4yJ_CggO1s