Video Games Turned My Boy Into A Killer Says Ex Cop After Son Gunned Down Family

A retired cop whose teenage son allegedly shot his mum and brother dead before crippling him says his son became a monster after becoming addicted to ultra-violent video games.

The 13-year-old allegedly tried to slaughter his entire family after his mother confiscated his mobile phone to make him concentrate on school work.

In revenge, he took his father’s service pistol and allegedly killed his mother and brother as they slept before turning the weapon on his father, who astonishingly still describes his son as ‘a good boy’.

A 13-year-old boy, pictured (right) shot dead his mother Iranilda de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, 47, and her younger brother, Gabriel de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, 7, and shot his father Benedito Araujo, all pictured, in Patos, on 19th March. (Newsflash)

The shocking incident took place in the municipality of Patos, in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Paraiba, on the afternoon of Saturday, 19th March.

It was first reported that the unnamed teen had shot his mother, father and brother after his parents had banned him from playing online games.

But it has now been alleged that he pulled the trigger because his mother had taken his mobile phone from him so he could concentrate on getting good marks at school.

Iranilda de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, 47, and Benedito Araujo, were shot by son, 13, in Patos, on 19th March. (Newsflash)

Mum Iranilda de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, 47, was reportedly shot in the head in her sleep. His younger brother, Gabriel de Sousa Medeiros Araujo, was also shot dead. He was just seven years old.

His father, retired Military Police (Brazil’s preventive police force) sergeant Benedito da Silva Araujo, was not at home at the time, but was shot when he got back from the pharmacy. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition and he has been left paraplegic.

The teen reportedly used his father’s old service weapon to commit the alleged crimes.

Benedito Araujo, shot by son, 13, in Patos, on 19th March. (Newsflash)

Despite being left bereft, the former cop has defended his son from his hospital bed at the Trauma Hospital in the municipality of Campina Grande.

He told the local press via a voice note that his son “is a good and obedient boy” and that he “attribute[s] his attitude to some games he was watching. Free Fire, that series Naruto.”

He also said: “I don’t want him to be imprisoned, he deserves to live in freedom, he must remain free.”

Benedito Araujo, shot by son, 13, in Patos, on 19th March. (Newsflash)

He also said that when he is discharged from hospital, he will seek a lawyer who is willing to defend his son and that he “will take care of him with all my love”.