Julie McConnell is a lawyer and the director of the Children’s Defense Clinic at the University of Richmond. “This really isn’t a criminal matter. This is a matter of what would be in the best interest of this child,” McConnell said.

McConnell says for anyone to stand trial, they must be capable of forming criminal intent but the law generally recognizes that ability at 7 years old. “That means the child has to understand the nature of the proceedings, be able to assist his lawyer in pursuing the case, understand the role of a judge and a prosecutor understand his own rights. Those are complex legal factors that a 6-year-old just would never be able to understand,” McConnell said. #virginia #teachershot #scrippsnews

————————————-

Newsy is your source for news and analysis covering the top stories from around the world. With persistent curiosity and no agenda, we strive to fuel meaningful conversations by highlighting multiple sides of every story. It’s news with the why.

Join our newsletter at http://bit.ly/2q1tepr
See more at http://www.newsy.com/
Like Newsy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/newsy/
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/newsy

42 Comments

  1. Thankfully no lives taken but that doesn’t give any free passes in this . That child need to be taken away from the parents and give propers helps , evaluations and be monitored in this till turn 18 if he really safe or continues . As the parents pay for all damages and face prison time to what the community think is fair because it could of went bad and the teachers and students could of die all due to her being irresponsible gun owners . I think at this point on we needs to lay down restrictions on guns laws to prevent violence . I still think only the farmers ,police n military personnel can own guns on their line of duty but average citizen why if you are against guns violence ? And if you are and it got stolen heck you will face charges and pays for it

  2. Every TV show and every movie promotes gun violence. And everyone is wonders why this happened!! 🤷🤦 Truly idiotic

  3. Oh, look. The police are stating a thorough investigation needs to be completed before they can draw any conclusions. What a thought.

  4. Laws are gonna be made so guns don’t fire unless your 21. Yeah this was a dumb statement but someone has to be blamed.

  5. That poor child being persuaded by a gun into shooting her teacher how do we still let the people have freedom to firearms is beyond me

  6. WHY aren't his parents arrested? How did a 6-year-old get a gun? The child needs too be in mental institution. You read it right. He understood and needs to be in a place that will address his mental illness. He is Mentally ILL! That mother must be white and connected because she is NOT IN JAIL TOTAL BS> Time to sue the mother, the school, the district and the STATE!

  7. What the heck did that teacher do to him that would cause him to shoot her? Just asking… Cameras in every classroom for parents to observe 24/7. PERIOD!

  8. Babies with guns. Come on… wake up United States. This is not what we want for our country and children. That poor child and all of his classmates will be traumatized. When will it be enough?

  9. Parents raising violent criminals is common in the USA! Are people JUST realizing this? Lot's of "parents" couldn't raise a goldfish let alone a precious child. Sickening state of affairs we have in America.

  10. They need to check out how many shootings happened in inner city schools in the early 90s. This is fear mongering. There is less shootings today than then, period. . Yall must be blind. Only God can save your life. Yall need to find Jesus!

  11. Demographics is 41% Black and 45% White. Want to guess why you don't know who the "Mom" is? Or why you don't hear about a "Dad"?

  12. A six year old is old enough to be disciplined for misbehaving. The punishment doesn’t have to be what would be administered to a teenager but no punishment at all, just counseling, would be a mistake, imo.
    Since the teacher didn’t die from her wounds, I hope the prosecutor is cautious about trying to pin a felony charge on the mother. It would better to get a successful misdemeanor charge than a failed felony. Hope they think this through rationally rather than emotionally.

  13. I bet no father is in the house…and the kid has full reign of the devices with NO SUPERVISION by the mother…but this is possible just by what the kid seen on TV, YouTube & all social media, while having great parents! Its the evil agenda-driving media screwing the minds of the youth & they, along with their masters, need to be held accountable.

  14. 6 year old can choose their gender says America, why is he a kid now and can't be held accountable for shooting a teacher. 2 life changing decisions.

  15. Black

    (44% of students)

    White

    (26% of students)

    Hispanic

    (16% of students)

  16. I don’t understand-
    Every other school shooting, within 24hrs, all info about anything and everything is know – from the shooter, to parents and families to the gun and where and how the guns where purchased.

    This case – what’s the hold up. We don’t even know the names of the parents.

Write A Comment