February 18, 2007
There will always be those who are quick to blame video games for any high-profile act of youthful violence.However, there appears to be no linkage at all between violent games and 18-year-old Sulejman Talovic's murderous rampage at a Salt Lake City mall last week. As reported by the Deseret News, Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank ruled out video games:
As for a motive for the killings, Burbank told the Deseret Morning News after the press conference that his investigators were still looking for one...
Although nothing will be completely ruled out in the search for a motive, some of the possibilities that have been rumored on Internet blog sites so far seem to have no merit, Burbank said.
For instance, detectives as of Friday had found no evidence that violent video games may have influenced Talovic. In fact, Talovic did not even own a computer or a video-game system, Burbank said.
GP: We previously reported that police removed no games or PC's during a search of Talovic's residence. Chief Burbank's comments are the first confirmation that the killer did not even own any game systems.
In addition to the new info about the games, the Deseret News report contains an excellent description of the professionalism and bravery under fire of the Salt Lake City and Ogden police officers who responded to the mall shooting incident.
Comments
We shall continue to weep on for teens like this, and they deserved to be executed by hanging for doing these crimes and besides, these people makes me feel ashamed to be a group of youths.
Gosh. You are all so naive.
Man the tinfoil in my hat itches.
"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth a remove all doubt."
Luckily for us Jack can't keep his mouth shut.
Second, and my personal favorite part, now we get to watch as Jack's argument is blown clear out of the water again. Jack, little tip: stop opening your mouth. It just makes you look stupider when the truth is laid bare.
"Or did they need the manual to tell them that you have to approach form behind and press ‘b’?"
you bring up my favorite point to put in peoples face when they say that games are simulators, like when my crazy aunt said "Need for Speed is a simulator teaching me to flee the police in a car", even though when i look for the x button in my car its never there.
also i'd like to say i think jack needs a new soapbox for this case, his old one broke.
Now if we can only find out the idiot in the Utah Legistature that proclaimed the Mall shooter trained on GTA as fact, even though it was a bogus claim. Any idea who it was, Dennis?
I agree, I don't understand how these type of things can be allowed for any lawyer to do. Perhaps thats what they meant by unprofessional conduct, but they were speaking about during a case. I guess if the lawyer isn't in a case at the time and sending emails that have nothing to do with the case, they could say any nonsense they want. Even if they have no proof, have never been there, don't know the attacker and are bat sh*% insane.
Going back to the Rebecca Walsh story, did you ever find out what she was referring to when she mentioned the comment about the case being mentioned on "Capitol Hill"?
Ya know, John Bruce really has bad luck with people with the last name Walsh. I mean, there was DA Paul Walsh, Jr. in the Robida case who wouldn't give him the time of day. And Dr. Walsh snubs John Bruce regarding John Bruce's comments about NIMF. Now Rebecca Walsh, while still referring to his email, pretty much blows him, and other agenda seekers, out of the water with a very well written piece.
It's good that the investigation is equally looking at ALL possibilities, including rumors, and not just giving in to the tragedy abusers and agenda seekers. That's what real investigators do, look at all possibilities.
nightwng2000
NW2K Software
I agree and disagree. I don't think him not having that stuff was a sole factor, however I think it would have been a good outlet for all this negative energy/
"I remember the Jacob Robida case, and JT even told the police to search the highway, because clearly he’d ditched his in-car-video-game-self-pleasuring-device as he fled."
If someone really left a PS2 and games on the side of a highway, as Jacky Boy tried to claim in the Robida case, 99% of the time, it wouldn't be there long before someone else claimed it for themselves.
But back on-topic, the Salt Lake City PD made Jacky Boy look like the fool he truly is.
@Jabrwock
I am sure they will and then it will be like: Guy wore a trench coat just like Columbine, and the guys from Columbline played video games therefore video games caused this tragedy. Ban video games!
"In fact, Talovic did not even own a computer or a video-game system, Burbank said."
"he’ll make something up that fits his conspiracy theory if he wants to concerning this"
I remember the Jacob Robida case, and JT even told the police to search the highway, because clearly he'd ditched his in-car-video-game-self-pleasuring-device as he fled. Didn't ditch the weapons he was carrying though...
And gues what, the majority of those people live in war torn countries.
So, using the same logic as Jacky boy, but then in reverse: Having no PC, consoles with violent game makes people agressive and homicidal.
It's not really about Jack, although he was the one who claimed the kid did play video games. This is more in regards to report on a subject that usually has people try to tie video games to. Most people would much rather it not BE about Jack, but this wouldn't be gamepolitics if it weren't covered due to the relevence of games and politics that Jack immerses himself into. And law is still a part of politics, as well, so you can't just ignore the school shootings that supposedly "were caused by this person playing video games."
And indeed, superb job by the SLCPD- they do have their faults, but this is them shining.
You can say that again. Those police officers are amazing. Kodus to them for stopping what could have been much worse.
The Video Game information is just icing.
Actually they won't, because people are under the assumption that kids don't have access to violent movies/television because movie theaters check IDs and every TV has a V-Chip. They seem to forget that minors can easily get into R-rated movies at the theater and very few parents use the V-Chip(And than have the audacity to complain about TV content).
Yeah, but his incessant chattering closely resembles that of a rabid drool monkey and gets annoying after a while.