Legal Twist: Boy Who Admitted to Cold-Blooded Killing Will NOT Be Charged
A 10-year-old Texas boy will not face charges in connection with the death of Brandon Rasberry, 32, who was fatally shot in the head in January 2022 at an RV Park in Nixon, Texas. The incident remained unresolved with no suspects identified until recently.
On April 12 of this year, developments unfolded that led authorities to the revelation of Rasberry’s killer, as detailed in a news release from the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a report at a Nixon Smiley Independent School District elementary school, where a 10-year-old boy had reportedly made threats against another student on a bus.
During the ensuing investigation, the boy confessed to the shooting of Brandon Rasberry two years prior, providing corroborating details consistent with the known facts of the case.
According to the release, the child recounted visiting his grandfather’s house on the afternoon of January 16, 2022, where he accessed a pistol from the glove box of his grandfather’s truck. The boy described the firearm as a 9-millimeter pistol with a "dirt and army green" coloration.
He then entered Rasberry's RV, found him asleep in bed, and fatally shot him in the head. The boy also admitted to discharging the firearm again inside the RV before returning it to the glovebox of the truck.
Remarkably, the child claimed to have no prior acquaintance with Rasberry and asserted no motive for the shooting, despite having observed Rasberry around the RV park earlier in the day. Authorities subsequently located the firearm at a pawn shop, consistent with the boy’s account. Further forensic analysis confirmed that shell casings recovered from the scene matched the gun.
Although the boy was taken into custody for a 72-hour emergency detention and psychiatric evaluation and faced charges of "terroristic threat" related to the bus incident, he was not charged in Rasberry's killing. Texas state law dictates that children under the age of ten do not bear criminal responsibility. At the time of the shooting, the child was just one week shy of his 8th birthday.
Paul Watkins, Gonzales County Attorney, described the case as "extraordinarily uncommon," emphasizing the need to safeguard the child despite the gravity of the offense. Kenneth Rasberry, the victim’s father, expressed shock at the revelation, extending empathy towards the young boy and expressing hope for his rehabilitation and future.
The Nixon-Smiley schools announced that the student involved in the incident would not be returning to the school. Rasberry emphasized the importance of support and understanding for the child, emphasizing forgiveness and the potential for redemption despite the tragic circumstances.