It Begins: LI Teens Arrested for "GTA Inspired" Crime Spree

[Dr.Finger]

This is going to get ugly. Six teenagers were arrested in Nassau County, NY (just east of New York City) after allegedly committing a series of robberies which police describe as "inspired by the notoriously violent video game 'Grand Theft Auto.'"

The accused crimes took place on and around Stewart Avenue in the New Hyde Park and Garden City sections of Nassau County (two fairly nice, well-to-do areas). The Wednesday night robbery carried over into the early hours of Thursday morning as the teens paraded down the middle of a Garden City street armed with bats and a crowbar, the police said.

They robbed one motorist and smashed a passing van with a bat, Nassau police said.

"It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree" using weapons and tactics inspired by the controversial video game, said Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a Nassau police spokesman.
It sounds like the teens outright admitted being inspired by parts of the game after they were arrested.

Source - Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-lirobb0627,0,5611979.story).

[evilgoodwin]

Send the little bastards to rot in jail for trying to blame being screw-ups on video games!

[Wslove]

Can I stone a prostitute to death and get off scott free by saying I was inspired by the Bible?

Just because these idiots were emulating GTA doesn't excuse their actions. Of course He Who Shall Not Be Named And Was Disbarred will be all over this one.

[Goronmon]

Exactly what "weapons and tactics" were they using that were inspired by GTA?

[AboveAvgCharles]

I doubt they even were emulating GTA, they just figured it'd make a good excuse to tell the cops that instead of being truthful and just saying "we're delinquent idiots who need harsh discipline".

[AboveAvgCharles]

Exactly what "weapons and tactics" were they using that were inspired by GTA?
I bet they were autoaiming.

[Dr.Finger]

Exactly what "weapons and tactics" were they using that were inspired by GTA?From the article, they were walking down the middle of Stewart Ave brandishing bats and crowbars. They'd occasionally stop to smash a car or rob someone.

[Loki_09]

smashed a passing van with a bat, Nassau police said.

Hmmm.. dont remeber that part of the game.

Anyway, same old song and dance.

[Citizen Philip]

Won't get too much traction. They look goofy. And it's a dead horse.

[TrackZero]

It sounds like the teens outright admitted being inspired by parts of the game after they were arrested.

Yeah, good luck with that defense. I hope they enjoy jailtime.

[Wslove]

From the article, they were walking down the middle of Stewart Ave brandishing bats and crowbars. They'd occasionally stop to smash a car or rob someone.

Then they certainly weren't inspired by GTA. If you got ten feet near a moving car in that game you got knocked over. Euphoria physics for the win.

[Psykoboy2]

GTA4 - The New "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea.

[Wraith]

Imagine their surprise when they weren't merely stripped of their weapons and cash and put back on the street, right on the front steps of the police station. All checking their cellphones for a text message to retry their failed mission.

[Gedd]

GTA? Sounds more like "The Warriors" to me.

[51|RandoM]

Next time you get arrested tell them you're emulating the Bush administration, it will make for a more interesting story.

[Heretic Machine]

If reality imitates art, which was imitating reality, can the art be blamed for the state of the reality?

Answer: No.

[Versathes]

Exactly what "weapons and tactics" were they using that were inspired by GTA?

That is the right question, because through it you clear the smokescreen and see the true threat to our youth:

armed with bats and a CROWBAR.

GTA is just a decoy, Half-Life is destroying the fabric of America.

[Ranhert]

There was no Crowbar in GTA, /fail
Now if these kids could tell me how to keep Roman, Packie, Brucie, Lil' Jacob, Dwayne, and 4 bitches happy while accomplishing plot missions in about an hour's play a day, then we'd be on to something...

[The Continental]

I'm pretty sure these "tactics and weapons" have been around longer than GTA IV. I don't think it takes a video game to inspire the smashing of things with blunt instruments.

[protocol_image]

That is the right question, because through it you clear the smokescreen and see the true threat to our youth:



GTA is just a decoy, Half-Life is destroying the fabric of America.

i like this.....

[Dukefrukem]

don't get caught up in this.. just because the cops described them as GTA like crimes, doesn't mean they were influenced by the game at all... read for content.. don't let the media fool you

[CapnBob]

How many stars did they have when the police caught them?

[Exodus]

Yeah because robbing people and fucking up peoples lives is just like a video game....
*yawn*

Someone failed to inform these kids that video games aren't real. Failure to differentiate life from a video game. It's really sad that people are growing up like this.

[Baron Samedi]

Man, if I was going postal, I sure as hell wouldn't copy GTA - so many better, more gratifying game fantasies to live out besides pedestrian killing.

[Roc Ingersol]

"It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree"... "We got certain admissions" from the boysAdmissions of what? Having heard of the game before?
'certain admissions'? I'm highly doubt they'd be beating around the bush if the kids had admitted intentionally aping violent media.

So in all likelihood the kids never even claimed it was their inspiration, let alone a defense. But who wants to do actual journalism when you're handed a sound-bite that will doubtlessly get papers read and the news watched, eh?

[Dukefrukem]

Admissions of what? Having heard of the game before?
'certain admissions'? I'm highly doubt they'd be beating around the bush if the kids had admitted intentionally aping violent media.

So in all likelihood the kids never even claimed it was their inspiration, let alone a defense. But who wants to do actual journalism when you're handed a sound-bite that will doubtlessly get papers read and the news watched, eh?

exactly... thank god someone here actually does read for content and does not jump to conclusions by headlines.

[kickmybum]

Yeah, good luck with that defense. I hope they enjoy jailtime.

I doubt they'll get any jail time. They stole a pack of cigarettes from some chick and hit a van with a bat.

[NationalKato]

If that's what's considered a 'crime spree' these days, criminals need to step up their game.

[DraggnKnucks]

GTA? Yeah right.... They were using a crowbar it was obviously inspired by half life. I'm sure if gravity guns were real this kid would be all over that shit.

[Texas Speed]

I had no idea GTA invented violence...

[Wraith]

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2008-06/40412123.jpg




Ha ha ha! Oh man, that's great.

[51|RandoM]

I'm pretty sure the saying, "monkey see, monkey do" predates the GTA series.

The game is rated mature, these are teenagers. If anybody "inspired" these kids to commit crimes it would appear to be their parents.

[Kelegacy]

Sounds like they were too young to play GTA. Send the parents to jail (or the guardians at wherever they played it) to jail for furnishing a place for minors to play mature videogames. Just like alcohol.

Yeah yeah, I know I'm being extreme, but I'm doing so on purpose. We live in a blame society. Blame everyone and everything but yourself. I killed that guy because my mom didn't love me enough, etc. Free will, ittthere's no such thing apparently.

[TrackZero]

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2008-06/40412123.jpg




Ha ha ha! Oh man, that's great.

What's great is his last name. Attard. Just let that one sink in.

Also, I don't get the OP subject. What the hell is "LI Teens".

[Dr.Finger]

Also, I don't get the OP subject. What the hell is "LI Teens".Long Island. Although some pronounce it "Lawn Guy-Land" ;)

[Wraith]

Also, I don't get the OP subject. What the hell is "LI Teens".Long Island.

Or Ludicrously Idiotic.

[Druxk]

I haven't read the full article, but I bet it has very little blame to place on the shoulders of their parents.

[Sandman]

Last I checked in GTA you went solo on most of your crime sprees...sometimes with a partner but mostly solo.

[Mephistopheles]

Next time you get arrested tell them you're emulating the Bush administration, it will make for a more interesting story.

It might even land them a job.

[Slade]

"We got certain admissions". Well, never mind going into any sort of detail — I'm glad he was able to determine the real cause of the problem so quickly.

tool.jpg

Ha ha ha! Oh man, that's great.

That looks like a turd of hair resting on his head.

[Opsin]

Yea, can we change 'admitted' to 'said'?
I mean, if they admitted they were influenced by GTA, then they're scumbag morons, with mental issues; if they said they were influenced by it, then they're lying fuckbag morons, trying to make everything worse for anyone sane.

[LongStepMantis]

I hope they enjoyed their pointless "crime spree"...if you can really call some minor vandalism and stealing cigarettes a crime spree.

When people do retarded shit like this, we should brand a giant "I" on their forehead so everyone they meet for the rest of their life knows they're an idiot.

[jromero]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d168/jr0mer0/idiot.jpg

[NationalKato]

And a Connecticut State Senator is trying to do something about the rape scene (http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/06/25/connecticut-state-senator-alarmed-over-non-existent-rape-scene-gta-iv#comments)in GTA. Except, of course, there is no rape scene in the game.

[Sen. Slossberg] wants confirmation of the rumored rape scene in Grand Theft Auto IV—but she can't reach that level of the game. The Milford state senator's never played GTA, but she fears it's corrupting the youth and thinks a law requiring better warning labels might be the fix. She told the Nose as much at a Capitol press conference last week...

Slossberg hints she'll... introduce legislation next session calling for clearer labeling of depraved video games like Grand Theft Auto... Slossberg's a bit unsure of how the warning labels might read: "I mean what would it say? 'This game will make you a sociopath'?"

Until today's gamers become tomorrow's Senators, we're likely never to have a rational discussion on gaming in the halls of our government.

[Commander]

Wow. I live 5 minutes away from New Hyde Park Rd and Stewart Ave. thats crazy. Parents need to do a better job at making a distinction to their kids about fiction/fantasy from reality.

[Disgustipated]

And a Connecticut State Senator is trying to do something about the rape scene (http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/06/25/connecticut-state-senator-alarmed-over-non-existent-rape-scene-gta-iv#comments)in GTA. Except, of course, there is no rape scene in the game.



Until today's gamers become tomorrow's Senators, we're likely never to have a rational discussion on gaming in the halls of our government.

That bitch is just dumb. Period.

[Jadbalja]

"It's a fair cop, but society's to blame."

"Right, we'll arrest them instead."

[LongStepMantis]

"It's a fair cop, but society's to blame."

"Right, we'll arrest them instead."

You heard em society! Put your hands up and come out where we can see you...yes, all of you.

[Thumper]

You can get a crowbar in GTA4!?

*runs to gamefaqs*

[torrefaction]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d168/jr0mer0/idiot.jpg

Fantastic work.

[KamaItachi]

As a follow up, we'll hear that the guys who gang-raped these idiots in prison "somewhat admitted" to being influenced by the ultra-violent prison drama, Oz.

[Shodan2020]

Did I tell you guys? I'm suing Namco because Pac-Man turned me into a fatass who eats a lot.

[SinVicious]

Kids and teens have been doing fucked up shit since before video games, It's just one lame ass excuse.

[LongStepMantis]

Did I tell you guys? I'm suing Namco because Pac-Man turned me into a fatass who eats a lot.

The hardest part will be convincing them that it also started you down the lonely road of eating ghosts.

There's not much meat to begin with, and their eyes always manage to escape.

[Whimbrel]

What does the term LI Teen mean? Limited intelligence? Legally imbecilic?

[Jambe]

The stupidity is depressing, but somehow I'm more upset by the sheer incompetence of the officials making the accusations.

Is there a site that lists politicos that are forward-thinking or at least capable of cogently assessing media legislation? I'm aware of sites like Game Politics, but are there sites that specifically focus on US political figures and their media savvy? I'd be interested in reading about it (and getting things done if at all possible). My state's government is about as full of nuts as any other.

[bjornbarspingvinen]

Sounds like excuses from idiots....

[51|RandoM]

What does the term LI Teen mean? Limited intelligence? Legally imbecilic?

Asked and answered.

[Wilkz07]

Sounds like excuses from idiots....

this was bound to happen eventually. there was a new story here last year where two kids were street racing down residential streets. hit a taxi and killed the driver. one of the racers convieniently had a copy of NFS Carbon in the car with them. They blamed the game for inspiring them, although I don't think they intended to kill someone but rather to use it as a cop-out if they got busted.

[LionEyez]

I bet they were autoaiming.

Lol!

Quoted for lolness!