A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after he allegedly murdered his mother and his younger brother and left his dad paralysed in hospital, fighting for his life, because they had banned him from playing a video game.

The teenager allegedly shot his family members using his father’s service weapon from his days as a military police officer.

The video game in question is reported to be Roblox, which is an online game platform and game creation system that has become increasingly popular since the coronavirus pandemic started. It allows users to play each other’s games and create their own content.

The shocking incident took place in Patos, which is a municipality located in the state of Paraiba, in north-eastern Brazil, on Saturday afternoon, 19th March.

The teenager’s 47-year-old mother, who has been named as Iranilda de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, was reportedly shot dead in her sleep. His younger brother, named as Gabriel de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, who was just seven years old, was also shot dead.

The teenager’s father, named as retired military police sergeant Benedito da Silva Araujo, 56, was also allegedly shot by the boy, who has not been named.

The father is reportedly in hospital in a serious condition, paralysed and fighting for his life. He was first taken by medics to the Patos Regional Hospital, before being later transferred to the Campina Grande Trauma Hospital.

Local media report that the 13-year-old boy told the authorities that he allegedly carried out the deadly shooting after being banned from playing the video game Roblox as a result of poor marks at school.

He is reportedly receiving psychological counselling while the authorities decide how to pursue the case.

An unnamed spokesperson told local media that the teenager said that he was under pressure to get good marks at school but he just wanted to play his video game.

The boy allegedly retrieved his father’s service weapon from a cupboard while his dad was out buying medication for his mother.

He then allegedly placed the firearm to his sleeping mother’s head and shot her dead. The father, upon returning home, tried to reason with the boy, but he was also shot, with the seven-year-old brother hugging his injured father before he, too, was shot, allegedly in the back.

The police investigation is ongoing.