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12-year-old accused of killing mom in court
A 12-year-old Milwaukee boy accused of killing his mother over a VR headset was in court on Monday, March 11. He's currently charged as an adult, but the defense argues the case should be moved back to juvenile court.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee boy, now 12, accused of shooting and killing his mom over a virtual reality headset when he was 10, was in court on Monday, March 11 for a reverse waiver hearing.
The fatal shooting happened in November 2022 at a home near 87th and Hemlock.
FOX6 News is not naming the boy due to a court order from the judge. He's charged as an adult. The defense argued Monday that the boy's case should be brought back into juvenile court.
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Prosecutors say the 12-year-old killed his mom, Quiana Mann, in the basement of their home in 2022. Prosecutors say the child shot and killed his mom for waking him up early and not buying him a virtual reality headset. Because he is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, he is being charged as an adult.
The defense said the boy was living with a mental illness that was made worse after he hit his head on the playground.
Dr. Michael Caldwell took the stand Monday to talk about the boy's mental health. He said the boy dealt with schizophrenia, and he has seen improvement over time.
The boy's attorneys say being tried in children's court will offer him the appropriate treatment to improve and heal.
"To transfer him to children’s court is to acknowledge that he deserves to continue down the path to the intensive treatment and care that Quiana used to get for her son," defense attorney Tanner Kilander said.
Fatal shooting at home near 87th and Hemlock, Milwaukee
They've laid out juvenile court options, but the state is fighting that.
"We don’t know what kind of a young man he is going to be until age 25, when his brain becomes fully developed," said prosecutor Gilbert Urfer. "The only options available if he were placed in the juvenile system will expire at the very moment when things are probably most crucial."
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A judge is expected to make a decision later this week.
Investigators say the boy bought the virtual reality headset the day after his mother died.
The boy was found competent in July 2023. He was evaluated by a psychologist after competency concerns were raised.
During a preliminary hearing in Sept. 2023, the court ruled there was enough evidence to go to trial.