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Daniel Petric, 'Halo 3' Killer, Gets 23 Years to Life for Murder

by Jordan Yerman | June 16, 2009 at 02:26 pm

5231 views | 13 Recommendations | 5 comments

Daniel Petric, the Ohio teenager who shot both his parents, killing his mother, was handed a sentence of 23 years to life in prison today by Judge James Burge.

Daniel's father, Mark Petric, a minister, wanted his son to get a lesser sentence, so he could get a second chance at life.

Petric was convicted in 2007 of shooting his parents with his father's gun after they confiscated his copy of the video game Halo 3. He then shot both of his parents in the head before attempting suicide, placing the gun in Mark's hand. Attorney James Kersey, who defended Daniel Petric, claimed that Daniel had "a video game addiction" and so should get a lesser sentence.

His father, Mark, a minister at New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, put the game in a lockbox in a closet where he also kept a 9mm handgun, according to prosecutors.

About a month later, on Oct. 20, 2007, Daniel used his father's key to open the lockbox and remove the gun and the game. The boy shot his parents, killing his mother and gravely wounding his father. As his father lay wounded, Daniel tried to place the gun in his father's hand.

Daniel Petric, 17, who could have gotten life without parole, shook his head slightly, sniffled and held back tears but sat down without saying a word when given the chance by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge.

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Frank Manoss (not verified)

at 11:07 on June 17th, 2009

I'm really getting tired of these liitle shits who think they're entitled. Screw him, put him away. I feel sorry for his parents.

Carolyn Silva (not verified)

at 16:45 on June 17th, 2009

This kid is a killer. treat him as such.

bob the builder (not verified)

at 23:16 on June 17th, 2009

his dad should get jailed as well because it was his fathers gun in which he shot her and him with.

halo 3 rules!!!

Jan Miller (not verified)

at 17:54 on July 11th, 2009

It is wonderful that his family forgives him, but can't this Christian pastor see that innocent people need to be protected from killers. This is not a little kid accidently pulling a trigger. A second chance at life is something you can't give to a murder victim. If this kid kills anybody else, his father will share in the guilt. Forgiveness doesn't mean throwing away responsibility. This is what some Christians refer to as sloppy agape.

Mark Douglas (not verified)

at 05:52 on August 20th, 2009

I read that even after the kid shot both parents in the head, and tried to frame the dad, the father told the son :"Remember, you are still my boy".

Kinda makes me wonder if they didn't spoil and excuse stuff that boy did, his whole life. People can create monsters that way too -- by letting the kid feel he is entitled to do whatever he wants, and someone will make an excuse for him.

It's hard to tell of course.

It doesnt seem a case of momentary insanity and rage -- during which the kid found a gun laying around, because the kid tried to frame the dad for it. A family we know, the teenage son got into some trouble, and shot himself, when he found his father's gun. A moment of stupidity + a gun in a confused kid's hand = a lot of sadness.

This kid will probably get out in 15 years or so, still a very young person. Let's hope he learns a lesson, cause he may be a ticking time bomb otherwise.