In a case that’s troubling on so many levels, prosecutors in Uvalde, Texas have charged a 12-year-old boy with capital murder, the most serious felony on the law books. If convicted, he could serve 40 years in prison.

Around 8 p.m. one weekday night, VanMeter, his girlfriend, Sammy Arellano, and two children were in their home. The couple heard someone trying to kick down the door. VanMeter went to survey the scene, while Arellano stayed in the bedroom. She heard a gunshot and called 911.

Suspect Will Be Tried as a Juvenile

Texas authorities often charge suspects with the highest possible crime, and work their way down from there, so it came as no surprise the suspect was charged with capital murder. This crime requires a murder to be committed during the commission of a violent felony, and it appears the suspect was robbing the home, since force was used to enter the home in which people were presently in.

Motive Still Unknown

But all of this still raises the looming question, what would drive a 12 year old boy to commit such a violent crime. “If a child has committed an adult crime, then almost by definition, you know that there are serious problems in that child’s life,” said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. “A kid who commits murder isn’t thinking about the law. He or she is caught up in some very complicated set of emotions. … We’re dealing with somebody who has been seriously abused or neglected or is mentally ill.”

If you or someone you love has been charged with a serious crime, contact a local criminal defense attorney. Whether it’s capital murder, robbery, or even shoplifting, an experienced lawyer can help put forth your best defense.

Related Resources:

  • Find a Criminal Defense Attorney Near You (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
  • Teen Faces Murder Charge After Egg-Throwing Prank Leads to Deadly Crash (FindLaw Blotter)
  • When Can Teens Be Tried as Adults? (FindLaw Blotter)

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