12-year-old boy charged with felony murder and armed robbery

**John** · August-20-09, 04:58 AM

12-year-old boy charged with felony murder and armed robbery

Detroit -- Trisha Babcock's dreams of becoming a nurse were snuffed out by a 12-year-old boy who police say fatally shot her during a robbery attempt.

Demarco Harris has been charged with felony murder and armed robbery in connection with the Aug. 1 slaying of Babcock, 24, of Davison, who was in Detroit looking for a job, Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans said Wednesday. He said police are seeking a second suspect in the shooting.

**ggores** · August-20-09, 07:37 AM

From the article:

"Babcock was sitting in a parked car with a male friend on West Outer Drive near Minock, close to Rosedale Park, when Harris, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, approached the vehicle shortly after midnight...."

Eh boy. We all should know the question what needs asked here. Out of sympathy for the gal, and empathy for the father, I will not ask it though.

Heed up job-seekers:
In this ghettohood, criminal activity is lauded, applauded, encouraged, and rewarded in the homes and abandoned shacks. Hard to believe, aint it?

**jcole** · August-20-09, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by ggores

From the article:

"Babcock was sitting in a parked car with a male friend on West Outer Drive near Minock, close to Rosedale Park, when Harris, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, approached the vehicle shortly after midnight...."

Eh boy. We all should know the question what needs asked here. Out of sympathy for the gal, and empathy for the father, I will not ask it though.

Heed up job-seekers:
In this ghettohood, criminal activity is lauded, applauded, encouraged, and rewarded in the homes and abandoned shacks. Hard to believe, aint it?

Is that a very thinly veiled attempt at the 'Blame the Victim' game? Shouldn't people be allowed to sit in their own car without getting shot in the head by some low-life?

crawford · August-20-09, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by ggores

Eh boy. We all should know the question what needs asked here. Out of sympathy for the gal, and empathy for the father, I will not ask it though.

Please inform us what sort of job-seeking activity justifies point-blank excecution?

**R8RBOB** · August-20-09, 09:15 AM

As a Detroiter, it hurts me to know that a child could be this stupid and thoughtless. I suppose we should thank his parents for the lack of common sense that this boy was surely missing.

My quote for the day:
"You can't fill an empty gas tank with a empty gas can."

About four years ago, I was working for DPS going from school to school and I saw the future. I saw these kids as a lost cause. Not all of them but there was those who stood out and you could just put a "red x" on their forehead. Just the other day, I came across a kid who was "attempting" to solict funds for his football team. Problem was there was no parent around to monitor his fundraising activites. He had his very own beggar's cup. Add on, parents that are dumb as rocks, not working and these kids are going through hell.

**jcole** · August-20-09, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

As a Detroiter, it hurts me to know that a child could be this stupid and thoughtless. I suppose we should thank his parents for the lack of common sense that this boy was surely missing.

Isn't that a bit of an understatement? I think the 'child' went beyond stupid and thoughtless to criminal and indefensible.

**R8RBOB** · August-20-09, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

Isn't that a bit of an understatement? I think the 'child' went beyond stupid and thoughtless to criminal and indefensible.

I stand by that statement. Talk to a 12 year old. They can't rationalize like a adult, they can't make decisions like a adult. Yes, it was stupid and thoughtless because that boy don't have the mindset I have. I know you want to make him into a monster but remember he doesn't have your knowledge. He doesn't know the definitions of "criminal and indefensible."

**REL** · August-20-09, 07:58 AM

ggores: "In this ghettohood, criminal activity is lauded, applauded, encouraged, and rewarded in the homes and abandoned shacks. Hard to believe, aint it?"

What, exactly, are you implying? That she was committing criminal activity?

crawford · August-20-09, 08:48 AM

My mom used to teach in Detroit, and no one in my family liked the situation. She would often come in before dawn to grade papers.

One morning she parked next to the school, and literally stepped out to a little boy sticking a gun in her face. She thinks he wasn't older than maybe 12 or so.

After that [[which had followed two car break-ins and a lunchtime criminal incident) she transferred to the burbs.

Detoit simply isn't a safe place, at least in most parts. For many people, the risks outweigh any benefits of the central city.

**agirlintheD** · August-20-09, 09:06 AM

According to freep.com [[which has ALL the answers, right??), to answer the question why she was in Detroit...According to Evans, Babcock was in Detroit applying for a job as a dancer. "The motive, we think, was robbery. She was a convenient person in a convenient place."

**DetroitTeacher** · August-20-09, 09:06 AM

My question is, "why is a 12 year-old out after midnight?" At age 12, I had to be home by 8pm and my parents had to know where I was, at all times. If I were anywhere other than my street, I had to have an escort home [[either friends' parents or my parents walked me home). If I were caught out after midnight, it would have been a slow death for me at the hands of my parents.

**R8RBOB** · August-20-09, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitTeacher

My question is, "why is a 12 year-old out after midnight?" At age 12, I had to be home by 8pm and my parents had to know where I was, at all times. If I were anywhere other than my street, I had to have an escort home [[either friends' parents or my parents walked me home). If I were caught out after midnight, it would have been a slow death for me at the hands of my parents.

Though the 12 year old did a unforgivable act, I am angry at the parents of this child. I know people would want to dump on this boy but his parents deserve all the rage. I would like to know why is it that this boy felt so comfortable to roam the street after 9PM? Since sunset is a little bit before 9, this child had no reason to be outside. He should have been in for the night but his parents thought that he was mature enough to take care of himself on the mean streets of Detroit.

Look at the little girl who got shot in the head recently. She was shot because bullets have no names but also because she was out at night when she should have been at home. When will these parents get it that their children are not their friends? There has to be rules or we will hear more stories of kids either getting shot or the ones doing the shootings.

**jonesy** · August-20-09, 09:33 AM

Chicago does a better job of preventing these kinds of crimes. When a "citizen" is robbed, assaulted, or murdered the Chicago PD will have the area in which the crime was committed on lock down. That may last a few hours or even a few weeks, but the increased police presence in the area makes it difficult for organized crime to operate. Those selling drugs, stolen goods, etc find it in their best interest to suppress as much of this activity as they can. Forcing the criminals to police themselves is a good thing. Detroit could learn a thing or two from the Chi.

**exdetroiter** · August-20-09, 09:51 AM

I was curious as to why this young lady was in that section of Detroit, myself, having grown up in Detroit, I know its not safe and especially that time of the night. You don't just sit around anywhere. Nonetheless, we do have to give the childs father some credit for turning him in to the police. Unfortnately this boy will be another Nathanial Abraham. The city needs to once again implement a curfew for those under 18, actually it should be for those under 21.

**R8RBOB** · August-20-09, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by exdetroiter

I was curious as to why this young lady was in that section of Detroit, myself, having grown up in Detroit, I know its not safe and especially that time of the night. You don't just sit around anywhere. Nonetheless, we do have to give the childs father some credit for turning him in to the police. Unfortnately this boy will be another Nathanial Abraham. The city needs to once again implement a curfew for those under 18, actually it should be for those under 21.

She was in that area between Rosedale and Brightmoor. More Rosedale but Brightmoor is near by. She was over by that park.

**exdetroiter** · August-20-09, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

She was in that area between Rosedale and Brightmoor. More Rosedale but Brightmoor is near by. She was over by that park.

Not to justify the killing, but to get to the bottom of what we are working with, that area is highly populasized by drug dealers, addicts and drug dens. Possibly that 12 year old was roaming the streets while one or both of his parents were busy getting high. The poor lady whom met her death possibly was involved with the wrong type of man to even have her in that dangerous area.

**firstandten** · August-20-09, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by jonesy

Chicago does a better job of preventing these kinds of crimes. When a "citizen" is robbed, assaulted, or murdered the Chicago PD will have the area in which the crime was committed on lock down. That may last a few hours or even a few weeks, but the increased police presence in the area makes it difficult for organized crime to operate. Those selling drugs, stolen goods, etc find it in their best interest to suppress as much of this activity as they can. Forcing the criminals to police themselves is a good thing. Detroit could learn a thing or two from the Chi.

Chicago seems to be having a few problems of its own lately

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/ande...n-chicago.html

This story doesn't add up. I have some thoughts about how this might have happen but I'll keep it to myself until more information becomes public.

I have always been in favor of a parental responsiblity law which could be enforced on a case by case basis. The boys mother would make a good case for this type of law being on the books.

**jcole** · August-20-09, 09:44 AM

If a 12 year old is able to obtain a gun, have the forethought to take it with him to commit a crime and shoot the victim to silence them, he has already rationalized as an adult would.

**R8RBOB** · August-20-09, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

If a 12 year old is able to obtain a gun, have the forethought to take it with him to commit a crime and shoot the victim to silence them, he has already rationalized as an adult would.

My friend, you should read my quote again. I will paste here for you.

"You can't fill an empty gas tank with a empty gas can."

**iheartthed** · August-20-09, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

If a 12 year old is able to obtain a gun, have the forethought to take it with him to commit a crime and shoot the victim to silence them, he has already rationalized as an adult would.

How does what you state demonstrate that he is capable of rationalizing as an adult? Should we start giving 12 year olds drivers licenses as well?

**jcole** · August-20-09, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

How does what you state demonstrate that he is capable of rationalizing as an adult? Should we start giving 12 year olds drivers licenses as well?

Definition of reason: to come to a conclusion. He concluded that to get what he wanted he would have to shoot the woman.

**R8RBOB** · August-20-09, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

Definition of reason: to come to a conclusion. He concluded that to get what he wanted he would have to shoot the woman.

You are attempting to show that this boy had the mental capacity to think on the level of an adult when we know he could have gotten this action from 24. If Jack Bauer can torture someone to get what he want, it's okay because it is a TV show.

**iheartthed** · August-20-09, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

Definition of reason: to come to a conclusion. He concluded that to get what he wanted he would have to shoot the woman.

Again: How does this prove that he was rationalizing in the same frame of mind as an adult? This is what you claimed. Please explain your "reasoning".

ziggyselbin · August-20-09, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

How does what you state demonstrate that he is capable of rationalizing as an adult? Should we start giving 12 year olds drivers licenses as well?

It may not be as frequent but in the past farmers children were often given driving privileges in rural area's.

The prosecutor may have information we don't as to why an adult designation has been optioned. Also this is a big twelve year old and that may have contribute, i.e. he might be hanging out with an older crowd.

The toddler comparison is wrong. Toddlers do not know the concept of death so they can't know the concept or act of causing death. A twelve year certainly knows the idea of death and how to kill[[obviously).

How ironic that the only time barbaric is used in this thread is to describe prosecuting someone twelve yrs old notwithstanding for murder.

One thing for certain if twelve yr olds are out committing gun crimes Detroit is not a safe place.

**iheartthed** · August-20-09, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by ziggyselbin

How ironic that the only time barbaric is used in this thread is to describe prosecuting someone twelve yrs old notwithstanding for murder.

Not really. The actions of this kid is not representative of society at large. OTOH, the obvious complacency by the general public with prosecuting children as adults is representative of the society at large. And I find that barbaric.