9-Year-Old Accused of Murdering Dad with Hatchet, Police Say Attack Resembled 'Violent' Video Game Boy Played

A Utah boy was arrested last month in connection with his father's death on allegations that he used a gun and a hatchet in the course of the killing, according to recently released arrest warrants cited by ABC 4, FOX 13, KUTV and KSL News Radio.

The 9-year-old child was arrested in Tooele, Utah, in February when emergency personnel responded to his home for what they initially thought was an attempted suicide by a man, according to search warrants reported by FOX 13, KUTV and KSL News Radio. 

The man, 32, was found unconscious and bleeding from a gunshot wound to his head on Feb. 16, ABC 4, KSL News Radio and KUTV report, citing the warrants. 

But the victim, who is not named in the reports, “was found to have been shot in the back of the head and had lacerations to his head, face, hands and arms" — which according to authorities, ruled out the possibility of suicide, one warrant said, per KSL News Radio.

“Medical personnel at the hospital advised that the lacerations to the extremities appeared to be ‘defensive wounds,'” the warrant said, per the radio outlet. 

Authorities said that on the evening of the incident, the victim and his son went to bed early after the boy was allegedly misbehaving, the outlets reported. 

“The victim’s son later emerged from the room and said that his dad was bleeding from the head and was dead,” one warrant alleges, per ABC 4 and KUTV. 

At the scene, authorities found a handgun with a bullet missing and a bloodied tomahawk-style hatchet, the warrants said, according to ABC 4 and Fox 13. 

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There were several other people present in the home at the time of the incident, according to FOX 13, including two adult roommates and their four young children.

The others told authorities the boy would spend “a lot of time” on his cell phone and tablet, “consuming content, watching videos and playing video games,” the warrant alleged, per ABC 4 and FOX 13. “There have been instances where the suspect has viewed videos that were deemed not age-appropriate and shared details of these videos with other children in the home, resulting in discipline," the warrant states.

One game he played featured similar weapons — the gun and hatchet — as those used in the real-life alleged crime, according to details of the warrant reported on by FOX 13, ABC 4 and KUTV. 

The child allegedly had an affinity for “particularly violent” games, the warrant stated.

Police did not release any information about a possible motive. 

The 9-year-old was arrested but it wasn’t immediately clear what charges he is facing. 

An investigation remains ongoing.